Multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system

ABSTRACT

A system that analyzes data from multiple sensors, potentially of different types, that track motions of players, equipment, and projectiles such as balls. Data from different sensors is combined to generate integrated metrics for events and activities. Illustrative sensors may include inertial sensors, cameras, radars, and light gates. As an illustrative example, a video camera may track motion of a pitched baseball, and an inertial sensor may track motion of a bat; the system may use the combined data to analyze the effectiveness of the swing in hitting the pitch. The system may also use sensor data to automatically select or generate tags for an event; tags may represent for example activity types, players, performance levels, or scoring results. The system may analyze social media postings to confirm or augment event tags. Users may filter and analyze saved events based on the assigned tags.

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 14/801,568 filed 16 Jul. 2015, which is acontinuation in part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.14/549,422 filed 20 Nov. 2014, which is a continuation in part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/257,959 filed 21 Apr. 2014, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/914,525, filed 10 Jun. 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,702,516, which is acontinuation in part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/679,879 filed 16 Nov. 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/298,158 filed 16 Nov. 2011, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/267,784 filed 6 Oct. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/219,525 filed 26 Aug. 2011, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/191,309 filed 26 Jul. 2011, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/048,850 filed 15 Mar. 2011, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.12/901,806 filed 11 Oct. 2010, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.Utility patent application Ser. No. 12/868,882 filed 26 Aug. 2010, thespecifications of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

This application is a continuation in part of U.S. Utility patentapplication Ser. No. 14/801,568 filed 16 Jul. 2015, which is also acontinuation in part of U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No.13/757,029, filed 1 Feb. 2013, the specification of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

One or more embodiments of the invention are related to the field ofmotion capture data analysis using sensor data or video information orboth sensor and video data. More particularly, but not by way oflimitation, one or more embodiments of the invention enable amulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system that combines data frommultiple types of sensors to analyze motion. Enables intelligentsynchronization and transfer of generally concise event videossynchronized with motion data from motion capture sensor(s) coupled witha user or piece of equipment. Greatly saves storage and increases uploadspeed by either discarding non-event video or uploading event videos andavoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos or bothdiscarding non-event video and transferring event videos. Motion eventsmay be correlated and/or otherwise synchronized with image(s) or video,as the events happen or at a later time based on location and/or time ofthe event or both, for example on the mobile device or on a remoteserver, and as captured from internal/external camera(s) or nanny cam,for example to enable saving video of the event, such as the first stepsof a child, violent shaking events, sporting, military or other motionevents including concussions, or falling events associated with anelderly person and for example discarding non-event related video data,to greatly reduce storage requirements for event videos. Sensor fusionmay be used to combine sensor data and video data to create integratedmotion metrics.

2. Description of the Related Art

Methods for analyzing motion of an object generally use one of twoapproaches: either motion sensors are attached to an object and sensordata is collected and analyzed, or stationary devices such as videocameras or radars are configured to observe moving objects. Generally,these approaches are not used in combination. For example, motionsensors may include inertial sensors that capture acceleration andgyroscope data, which is then integrated to measure an object'strajectory. Video analysis of motion may include traditional motioncapture systems that use special reflective markers, or moresophisticated methods that use image processing to locate and trackobjects without markers.

Motion analysis methods based on a single type of sensor (such as amotion sensor, a video camera, or a radar) have limitations. Forexample, inertial sensor based methods typically require initialization,which is not always possible. They are also not very accurate over longtimeframes. Video based methods on the other hand may lose objects dueto occlusion, and they typically have relatively low video frame rateslimiting their precision.

While there are some systems that perform simple overlays of motionsensor data onto or associated with video, current methods generally donot integrate sensor based motion analysis and video based motionanalysis. Such integration offers the potential for more accurate andcomplete motion analysis by combining the strengths of sensor dataanalysis and the strengths of video motion analysis. Full integrationpresents many technical challenges, including for example timesynchronization of sensor and video data sources, robust objectidentification in videos, coordinate system alignment, and sensor fusionof the different types of information. No known methods address all ofthese technical challenges to form a complete solution for sensor andvideo integration.

In addition, existing motion capture systems process and potentiallystore enormous amounts of data with respect to the actual events ofinterest. For example, known systems capture accelerometer data fromsensors coupled to a user or piece of equipment and analyze or monitormovement. In these scenarios, thousands or millions of motion capturesamples are associated with the user at rest or not moving in a mannerthat is related to a particular event that the existing systems areattempting to analyze. For example, if monitoring a football player, alarge amount of motion data is not related to a concussion event, for ababy, a large amount of motion data is not related in general to ashaking event or non-motion event such as sudden infant death syndrome(SIDS), for a golfer, a large amount of motion data captured by a sensormounted on the player's golf club is of low acceleration value, e.g.,associated with the player standing or waiting for a play or otherwisenot moving or accelerating in a manner of interest. Hence, capturing,transferring and storing non-event related data increases requirementsfor power, bandwidth and memory.

In addition, video capture of a user performing some type of motion mayinclude even larger amounts of data, much of which has nothing to dowith an actual event, such as a swing of a baseball bat or home run.There are no known systems that automatically trim video, e.g., saveevent related video or even discard non-event related video, for exampleby uploading for example only the pertinent event video as determined bya motion capture sensor, without uploading the entire raw videos, togenerate smaller video segments that correspond to the events that occurin the video and for example as detected through analysis of the motioncapture data.

Some systems that are related to monitoring impacts are focused onlinear acceleration related impacts. These systems are unable to monitorrotational accelerations or velocities and are therefore unable todetect certain types of events that may produce concussions. Inaddition, many of these types of systems do not produce event related,connectionless messages for low power and longevity considerations.Hence, these systems are limited in their use based on their lack ofrobust characteristics.

Known systems also do not contemplate data mining of events withinmotion data to form a representation of a particular movement, forexample a swing of an average player or average professional playerlevel, or any player level based on a function of events recognizedwithin previously stored motion data. Thus, it is difficult and timeconsuming and requires manual labor to find, trim and designateparticular motion related events for use in virtual reality for example.Hence, current systems do not easily enable a particular user to playagainst a previously stored motion event of the same user or other useralong with a historical player for example. Furthermore, known systemsdo not take into account cumulative impacts, and for example withrespect to data mined information related to concussions, to determineif a series of impacts may lead to impaired brain function over time.

Other types of motion capture systems include video systems that aredirected at analyzing and teaching body mechanics. These systems arebased on video recording of an athlete and analysis of the recordedvideo of an athlete. This technique has various limitations includinginaccurate and inconsistent subjective analysis based on video forexample. Another technique includes motion analysis, for example usingat least two cameras to capture three-dimensional points of movementassociated with an athlete. Known implementations utilize a stationarymulti-camera system that is not portable and thus cannot be utilizedoutside of the environment where the system is installed, for exampleduring an athletic event such as a golf tournament, football game or tomonitor a child or elderly person. In general video based systems do notalso utilize digital motion capture data from sensors on the objectundergoing motion since they are directed at obtaining and analyzingimages having visual markers instead of electronic sensors. These fixedinstallations are extremely expensive as well. Such prior techniques aresummarized in U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,554, filed 26 Jan. 2006, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/647,751filed 26 Jan. 2005, the specifications of which are both herebyincorporated herein by reference. Both disclosures are to the sameinventor of the subject matter of the instant application.

Regardless of the motion capture data obtained, the data is generallyanalyzed on a per user or per swing basis that does not contemplateprocessing on a mobile phone, so that a user would only buy a motioncapture sensor and an “app” for a pre-existing mobile phone. Inaddition, existing solutions do not contemplate mobile use, analysis andmessaging and/or comparison to or use of previously stored motioncapture data from the user or other users or data mining of large datasets of motion capture data, for example to obtain or create motioncapture data associated with a group of users, for example professionalgolfers, tennis players, baseball players or players of any other sportto provide events associated with a “professional level” average orexceptional virtual reality opponent. To summarize, motion capture datais generally used for immediate monitoring or sports performancefeedback and generally has had limited and/or primitive use in otherfields.

Known motion capture systems generally utilize several passive or activemarkers or several sensors. There are no known systems that utilize aslittle as one visual marker or sensor and an app that for exampleexecutes on a mobile device that a user already owns, to analyze anddisplay motion capture data associated with a user and/or piece ofequipment. The data is generally analyzed in a laboratory on a per useror per swing basis and is not used for any other purpose besides motionanalysis or representation of motion of that particular user and isgenerally not subjected to data mining.

There are no known systems that allow for motion capture elements suchas wireless sensors to seamlessly integrate or otherwise couple with auser or shoes, gloves, shirts, pants, belts, or other equipment, such asa baseball bat, tennis racquet, golf club, mouth piece for a boxer,football or soccer player, or protective mouthpiece utilized in anyother contact sport for local analysis or later analysis in such a smallformat that the user is not aware that the sensors are located in or onthese items. There are no known systems that provide seamless mounts,for example in the weight port of a golf club or at the end shaft nearthe handle so as to provide a wireless golf club, configured to capturemotion data. Data derived from existing sensors is not saved in adatabase for a large number of events and is not used relative toanything but the performance at which the motion capture data wasacquired.

In addition, for sports that utilize a piece of equipment and a ball,there are no known portable systems that allow the user to obtainimmediate visual feedback regarding ball flight distance, swing speed,swing efficiency of the piece of equipment or how centered an impact ofthe ball is, i.e., where on the piece of equipment the collision of theball has taken place. These systems do not allow for user's to playgames with the motion capture data acquired from other users, orhistorical players, or from their own previous performances. Knownsystems do not allow for data mining motion capture data from a largenumber of swings to suggest or allow the searching for better or optimalequipment to match a user's motion capture data and do not enableoriginal equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to make business decisions,e.g., improve their products, compare their products to othermanufacturers, up-sell products or contact users that may purchasedifferent or more profitable products.

In addition, there are no known systems that utilize motion capture datamining for equipment fitting and subsequent point-of-sale decisionmaking for instantaneous purchasing of equipment that fits an athlete.Furthermore, no known systems allow for custom order fulfillment such asassemble-to-order (ATO) for custom order fulfillment of sportingequipment, for example equipment that is built to customerspecifications based on motion capture data mining, and shipped to thecustomer to complete the point of sales process, for example during playor virtual reality play.

In addition, there are no known systems that use a mobile device andRFID tags for passive compliance and monitoring applications.

There are no known systems that enable data mining for a large number ofusers related to their motion or motion of associated equipment to findpatterns in the data that allows for business strategies to bedetermined based on heretofore undiscovered patterns related to motion.There are no known systems that enable obtain payment from OEMs, medicalprofessionals, gaming companies or other end users to allow data miningof motion data.

Known systems such as Lokshin, United States Patent Publication No.20130346013, published 26 Dec. 2013 and 2013033054 published 12 Dec.2013 for example do not contemplate uploading only the pertinent videosthat occur during event, but rather upload large videos that are latersynchronized. Both Lokshin references does not contemplate a motioncapture sensor commanding a camera to alter camera parameters on-the-flybased on the event, to provide increased frame rate for slow motion forexample during the event video capture, and do not contemplate changingplayback parameters during a portion of a video corresponding to anevent. The references also do not contemplate generation of highlightreels where multiple cameras may capture an event, for example from adifferent angle and do not contemplate automatic selection of the bestvideo for a given event. In addition, the references do not contemplatea multi-sensor environment where other sensors may not observe orotherwise detect an event, while the sensor data is still valuable forobtaining metrics, and hence the references do not teach saving eventdata on other sensors after one sensor has identified an event.

Associating one or more tags with events is often useful for eventanalysis, filtering, and categorizing. Tags may for example indicate theplayers involved in an event, the type of action, and the result of anaction (such as a score). Known systems rely on manual tagging of eventsby human operators who review event videos and event data. For example,there are existing system for coaches to tag videos of sporting eventsor practices, for example to review a team's performance or for scoutingreports. There are also systems for sports broadcasting that manuallytag video events with players or actions. There are no known systemsthat analyze data from motion sensors, video, radar, or other sensors toautomatically select one or more tags for an event based on the data. Anautomatic event tagging system would provide a significant labor savingover the current manual tagging methods, and would provide valuableinformation for subsequent event retrieval and analysis.

For at least the limitations described above there is a need for amulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more embodiments described in the specification are related tomulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system. Embodiments of theinvention enable intelligent synchronization and transfer of generallyconcise event videos synchronized with motion data from motion capturesensor(s) coupled with a user or piece of equipment. Greatly savesstorage and increases upload speed by uploading event videos andavoiding upload of non-pertinent portions of large videos. Providesintelligent selection of multiple videos from multiple cameras coveringan event at a given time, for example selecting one with least shake.Enables near real-time alteration of camera parameters during an eventdetermined by the motion capture sensor, and alteration of playbackparameters and special effects for synchronized event videos. Createshighlight reels filtered by metrics and can sort by metric. Integrateswith multiple sensors to save event data even if other sensors do notdetect the event. Also enables analysis or comparison of movementassociated with the same user, other user, historical user or group ofusers. At least one embodiment provides intelligent recognition ofevents within motion data including but not limited to motion capturedata obtained from portable wireless motion capture elements such asvisual markers and sensors, radio frequency identification tags andmobile device computer systems, or calculated based on analyzed movementassociated with the same user, or compared against the user or anotherother user, historical user or group of users. Enables low memoryutilization for event data and video data by trimming motion data andvideos to correspond to the detected events. This may be performed onthe mobile device or on a remote server and based on location and/ortime of the event and based on the location and/or time of the video,and may optionally include the orientation of the camera to furtherlimit the videos that may include the motion events. Embodiments enableevent based viewing and low power transmission of events andcommunication with an app executing on a mobile device and/or withexternal cameras to designate windows that define the events. Enablesrecognition of motion events, and designation of events within images orvideos, such as a shot, move or swing of a player, a concussion of aplayer, boxer, rider or driver, or a heat stroke, hypothermia, seizure,asthma attack, epileptic attack or any other sporting or physical motionrelated event including walking and falling. Events may be correlatedwith one or more images or video as captured from internal/externalcamera or cameras or nanny cam, for example to enable saving video ofthe event, such as the first steps of a child, violent shaking events,sporting events including concussions, or falling events associated withan elderly person. Concussion related events and other events may bemonitored for linear acceleration thresholds and/or patterns as well asrotational acceleration and velocity thresholds and/or patterns and/orsaved on an event basis and/or transferred over lightweightconnectionless protocols or any combination thereof. Generatesintegrated motion metrics using sensor fusion of motion capture sensordata and motion data derived from video analysis.

Embodiments of the invention enable a user to purchase an application or“app” and a motion capture element and immediately utilize the systemwith their existing mobile computer, e.g., mobile phone. Embodiments ofthe invention may display motion information to a monitoring user, oruser associated with the motion capture element or piece of equipment.Embodiments may also display information based on motion analysis dataassociated with a user or piece of equipment based on (via a functionsuch as but not limited to a comparison) previously stored motioncapture data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment or previously stored motion capture data or motion analysisdata associated with at least one other user. This enables sophisticatedmonitoring, compliance, interaction with actual motion capture data orpattern obtained from other user(s), for example to play a virtual gameusing real motion data obtained from the user with responses generatedbased thereon using real motion data capture from the user previously orfrom other users (or equipment). This capability provides for playingagainst historical players, for example a game of virtual tennis, orplaying against an “average” professional sports person, and is unknownin the art until now.

For example, one or more embodiments include at least one motion captureelement configured to couple with a user or piece of equipment or mobiledevice coupled with the user, wherein the at least one motion captureelement includes a memory, a sensor configured to capture anycombination of values associated with an orientation, position,velocity, acceleration (linear and/or rotational) of the at least onemotion capture element, a radio, and a microcontroller coupled with thememory, the sensor and the radio. The microcontroller is configured tocollect data that includes sensor values from the sensor, store the datain the memory, analyze the data and recognize an event within the datato determine event data and transmit the event data associated with theevent via the radio. Embodiments of the system may also include anapplication configured to execute on a mobile device wherein the mobiledevice includes a computer, a wireless communication interfaceconfigured to communicate with the radio to obtain the event dataassociated with the event. The computer is coupled with wirelesscommunication interface wherein the computer executes the application or“app” to configure the computer to receive the event data from thewireless communication interface, analyze the event data to form motionanalysis data, store the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth the event data and the motion analysis data, and displayinformation comprising the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth associated with the at least one user on a display.

One or more embodiments include at least one motion capture sensor thatis configured to be placed near the user's head wherein themicrocontroller is further configured to calculate of a location ofimpact on the user's head. Embodiments of the at least one motioncapture sensor may be configured to be coupled on a hat or cap, within aprotective mouthpiece, using any type of mount, enclosure or couplingmechanism. One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capturesensor may be configured to be coupled with a helmet on the user's headand wherein the calculation of the location of impact on the user's headis based on the physical geometry of the user's head and/or helmet.Embodiments may include a temperature sensor coupled with the at leastone motion capture sensor or with the microcontroller for example.

Embodiments of the invention may also utilize an isolator configured tosurround the at least one motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof the event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and anobserved rotational acceleration of the user's brain. Thus, embodimentsmay eliminate processing to translate forces or acceleration values orany other values from the helmet based acceleration to the observedbrain acceleration values. Therefore, embodiments utilize less power andstorage to provide event specific data, which in turn minimizes theamount of data transfer, which yields lower transmission powerutilization and even lower total power utilization. Different isolatorsmay be utilized on a football/hockey/lacrosse player's helmet based onthe type of padding inherent in the helmet. Other embodiments utilizedin sports where helmets are not worn, or occasionally worn may alsoutilize at least one motion capture sensor on a cap or hat, for exampleon a baseball player's hat, along with at least one sensor mounted on abatting helmet. Headband mounts may also be utilized in sports where acap is not utilized, such as soccer to also determine concussions. Inone or more embodiments, the isolator utilized on a helmet may remain inthe enclosure attached to the helmet and the sensor may be removed andplaced on another piece of equipment that does not make use of anisolator that matches the dampening of a user's brain fluids.Embodiments may automatically detect a type of motion and determine thetype of equipment that the motion capture sensor is currently attachedto based on characteristic motion patterns associated with certain typesof equipment, i.e., surfboard versus baseball bat.

Embodiments of the invention may be configured to obtain/calculate alinear acceleration value or a rotational acceleration value or both.This enables rotational events to be monitored for concussions as wellas linear accelerations. Other events may make use of the linear and/orrotational acceleration and/or velocity, for example as compared againstpatterns or templates to not only switch sensor personalities during anevent to alter the capture characteristics dynamically, but also tocharacterize the type of equipment currently being utilized with thecurrent motion capture sensor. This enables a single motion captureelement purchase by a user to instrument multiple pieces of equipment orclothing by enabling the sensor to automatically determine what type ofequipment or piece of clothing the sensor is coupled to based on themotion captured by the sensor when compared against characteristicpatterns or templates of motion.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the event data associated withthe event using a connectionless broadcast message. In one or moreembodiments, depending on the wireless communication employed, broadcastmessages may include payloads with a limited amount of data that may beutilized to avoid handshaking and overhead of a connection basedprotocol. In other embodiments connectionless or connection basedprotocols may be utilized in any combination.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may access previously storedevent data or motion analysis data associated with the user or piece ofequipment, for example to determine the number of concussions or fallsor other swings, or any other motion event. Embodiments may also presentevent data associated with the at least one user on a display based onthe event data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment and the previously stored event data or motion analysisdata associated with the user or piece of equipment or with at least oneother user or other piece of equipment. This enables comparison ofmotion events, in number or quantitative value, e.g., the maximumrotational acceleration observed by the user or other users in aparticular game or historically. In addition, patterns or templates thatdefine characteristic motion of particular pieces of equipment fortypical events may be dynamically updated, for example on a centralserver or locally, and dynamically updated in motion capture sensors viathe wireless interface in one or more embodiments. This enables sensorsto improve over time.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the information to a displayon a visual display coupled with the computer or a remote computer, forexample over broadcast television or the Internet for example.Embodiments of the display may also be configured to accept sub-eventtime locations to provide discrete scrolling along the timeline of thewhole event. For example a golf swing may include sub-events such as anaddress, swing back, swing forward, strike, follow through. The systemmay display time locations for the sub-events and accept user input nearthe location to assert that the video should start or stop at that pointin time, or scroll to or back to that point in time for ease of viewingsub-events for example.

Embodiments of the invention may also include an identifier coupled withthe at least one motion capture sensor or the user or the piece ofequipment. In one or more embodiments, the identifier may include a teamand jersey number or student identifier number or license number or anyother identifier that enables relatively unique identification of aparticular event from a particular user or piece of equipment. Thisenables team sports or locations with multiple players or users to beidentified with respect to the app that is configured to receive dataassociated with a particular player or user. One or more embodimentsreceive the identifier, for example a passive RFID identifier or MACaddress or other serial number associated with the player or user andassociate the identifier with the event data and motion analysis data.

One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capture element mayfurther include a light emitting element configured to output light ifthe event occurs. This may be utilized to display a potential, mild orsevere level of concussion on the outer portion of the helmet withoutany required communication to any external device for example. Differentcolors or flashing intervals may also be utilized to relay informationrelated to the event. Alternatively, or in combination, the at least onemotion capture element may further include an audio output elementconfigured to output sound if the event occurs or if the at least onemotion capture sensor is out of range of the computer or wherein thecomputer is configured to display and alert if the at least one motioncapture sensor is out of range of the computer, or any combinationthereof. Embodiments of the sensor may also utilize an LCD that outputsa coded analysis of the current event, for example in a Quick Response(QR) code or bar code for example so that a referee may obtain asnapshot of the analysis code on a mobile device locally, and so thatthe event is not viewed in a readable form on the sensor or wirelesslytransmitted and intercepted by anyone else.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one motion capture elementfurther includes a location determination element coupled with themicrocontroller. This may include a GPS (Global Positioning System)device for example. Alternatively, or in combination, the computer maytriangulate the location in concert with another computer, or obtain thelocation from any other triangulation type of receiver, or calculate thelocation based on images captured via a camera coupled with the computerand known to be oriented in a particular direction, wherein the computercalculates an offset from the mobile device based on the direction andsize of objects within the image for example.

In one or more embodiments, the computer is further configured torequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event. This may include a broadcastmessage requesting video from a particular proximal camera or a camerathat is pointing in the direction of the event. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to broadcast a requestfor camera locations proximal to the event or oriented to view theevent, and optionally display the available cameras, or videos therefromfor the time duration around the event of interest. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to display a list of oneor more times at which the event has occurred, which enables the userobtain the desired event video via the computer, and/or to independentlyrequest the video from a third party with the desired event times.

In one or more embodiments, the at least one motion capture sensor iscoupled with the mobile device and for example uses an internal motionsensor within or coupled with the mobile device. This enables motioncapture and event recognition with minimal and ubiquitous hardware,e.g., using a mobile device with a built-in accelerometer. In one ormore embodiments, a first mobile device may be coupled with a userrecording motion data, while a second mobile device is utilized torecord a video of the motion. In one or more embodiments, the userundergoing motion may gesture, e.g., tap N times on the mobile device toindicate that the second user's mobile device should start recordingvideo or stop recording video. Any other gesture may be utilized tocommunicate event related or motion related indications between mobiledevices.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture sensor may include atemperature sensor, or the microcontroller may otherwise be coupled witha temperature sensor. In these embodiments, the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit a temperature obtained from the temperaturesensor as a temperature event, for example as a potential indication ofheat stroke or hypothermia.

Thus embodiments of the invention may recognize any type of motionevent, including events related to motion associated with the at leastone motion capture sensor coupled with any combination of the user, orthe piece of equipment or the mobile device or motion that is indicativeof standing, walking, falling, a heat stroke, seizure, violent shaking,a concussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existentbreathing or any combination thereof or any other type of event having aduration of time during with motion occurs.

Embodiments of the invention may utilize data mining on the motioncapture data to obtain patterns for users, equipment, or use the motioncapture data or events of a given user or other user in particularembodiments of the invention. Data mining relates to discovering newpatterns in large databases wherein the patterns are previously unknown.Many methods may be applied to the data to discover new patternsincluding statistical analysis, neural networks and artificialintelligence for example. Due to the large amount of data, automateddata mining may be performed by one or more computers to find unknownpatterns in the data. Unknown patterns may include groups of relateddata, anomalies in the data, dependencies between elements of the data,classifications and functions that model the data with minimal error orany other type of unknown pattern. Displays of data mining results mayinclude displays that summarize newly discovered patterns in a way thatis easier for a user to understand than large amounts of pure raw data.One of the results of the data mining process is improved marketresearch reports, product improvement, lead generation and targetedsales. Generally, any type of data that will be subjected to data miningmust be cleansed, data mined and the results of which are generallyvalidated. Businesses may increase profits using data mining. Examplesof benefits of embodiments of the invention include customerrelationship management to highly target individuals based on patternsdiscovered in the data. In addition, market basket analysis data miningenables identifying products that are purchased or owned by the sameindividuals and which can be utilized to offer products to users thatown one product but who do not own another product that is typicallyowned by other users.

Other areas of data mining include analyzing large sets of motion datafrom different users to suggest exercises to improve performance basedon performance data from other users. For example if one user has lessrotation of the hips during a swing versus the average user, thenexercises to improve flexibility or strength may be suggested by thesystem. In a golf course embodiment, golf course planners may determineover a large amount of users on a golf course which holes should beadjusted in length or difficulty to obtain more discrete values for theaverage number of shots per hole, or for determining the amount of timebetween golfers, for example at a certain time of day or for golfers ofa certain age. In addition, sports and medical applications of datamining include determining morphological changes in user performanceover time, for example versus diet or exercise changes to determine whatimproves performance the most, or for example what times of the day,temperatures, or other conditions produce swing events that result inthe furthest drive or lowest score. Use of motion capture data for aparticular user or with respect to other users enables healthcarecompliance, for example to ensure a person with diabetes moves a certainamount during the day, and morphological analysis to determine how auser's motion or range of motion has changed over time. Games may beplayed with motion capture data that enables virtual reality playagainst historical greats or other users. For example, a person may playagainst a previous performance of the same person or against the motioncapture data of a friend. This allows users to play a game in a historicstadium or venue in a virtual reality environment, but with motioncapture data acquired from the user or other users previously forexample. Military planners may utilize the motion capture data todetermine which soldiers are most fit and therefore eligible for specialoperations, or which ones should retire, or by coaches to determine whena player should rest based on the concussion events and severity thereofsustained by a player for example and potentially based on a mined timeperiod where other users have increased performance after a concussionrelated event.

Embodiments of the system perform motion capture and/or display with anapplication for example that executes on mobile device that may includea visual display and an optional camera and which is capable ofobtaining data from at least one motion capture element such as a visualmarker and/or a wireless sensor. The system can also integrate withstandalone cameras, or cameras on multiple mobile devices. The systemalso enables the user to analyze and display the motion capture data ina variety of ways that provide immediate easy to understand graphicalinformation associated with the motion capture data. Motion captureelements utilized in the system intelligently store data for examplerelated to events associated with striking a ball, making a ski turn,jumping, etc., and eliminate false events, and greatly improve memoryusage and minimize storage requirements. In addition, the data may bestored for example for more than one event associated with the sportingequipment, for example multiple bat swings or for an entire round ofgolf or more if necessary at least until the data is downloaded to amobile device or to the Internet. Data compression of captured data mayalso be utilized to store more motion capture data in a given amount ofmemory. Motion capture elements utilized in the system may also beconfigured to intelligently power down portions of their circuitry tosave power, for example power down transceivers until motion is detectedof a certain type. Embodiments of the invention may also utilizeflexible battery connectors to couple two or more batteries in parallelto increase the time the system may be utilized before replacing thebatteries. Motion capture data is generally stored in memory such as alocal database or in a network accessible database, any of which enablesdata mining described above. Any other type of data mining may beperformed using embodiments of the invention, including searching fortemporal changes of data related to one or more users and or simplysearching for data related to a particular user or piece of equipment.

Other embodiments may display information such as music selections ormusic playlists to be played based on the motion related data. This forexample enables a performance to be compared to another user'sperformance and select the type of music the other user plays, or tocompare the performance relative to a threshold that determines whattype of music selection to suggest or display.

Embodiments of the invention directed sports for example enable RFID orpassive RFID tags to be placed on items that a user moves whereinembodiments of the system keep track of the motion. For example, byplacing passive RFID tags on a particular helmet or cap, or protectivemouthpiece for boxing, football, soccer or other contact sport,particular dumbbells at a gym, and by wearing motion capture elementssuch as gloves and with a pre-existing mobile device for example anIPHONE®, embodiments of the invention provide automatic safetycompliance or fitness and/or healthcare compliance. This is achieved bykeeping track of the motion, and via RFID or passive RFID, the weightthat the user is lifting. Embodiments of the invention may thus add thenumber of repetitions multiplied by the amount of weight indicated byeach RFID tag to calculate the number of calories burned by the user. Inanother example, an RFID tag coupled with a stationary bike, or whereinthe stationary bike can mimic the identifier and/or communicatewirelessly to provide performance data and wherein the mobile computerincludes an RFID reader, the number of rotations of the user's legs maybe counted. Any other use of RFID or passive RFID is in keeping with thespirit of the invention. This enables doctors to remotely determinewhether a user has complied with their medical recommendations, orexceeded linear or rotational acceleration indicative of a concussionfor example. Embodiments may thus be utilized by users to ensurecompliance and by doctors to lower their malpractice insurance ratessince they are ensuring that their patients are complying with theirrecommendations, albeit remotely. Embodiments of the invention do notrequire RFID tags for medical compliance, but may utilize them.Embodiments of the invention directed at golf also enable golf shots foreach club associated with a golfer to be counted through use of anidentifier such as RFID tags on each club (or optionally via anidentifier associated with motion capture electronics on a golf club orobtained remotely over the radio) and a mobile computer, for example anIPHONE® equipped with an RFID reader that concentrates the processingfor golf shot counting on the mobile computer instead of on each golfclub. Embodiments of the invention may also allow for the measurement oforientation (North/South, and/or two horizontal axes and the verticalaxis) and acceleration using an inertial measurement unit, oraccelerometers and/or magnetometers, and/or gyroscopes. This is notrequired for golf shot counting, although one or more embodiments maydetermine when the golf club has struck a golf ball through vibrationanalysis for example and then query a golfer whether to count a shot ornot. This functionality may be combined with speed or accelerationthreshold or range detection for example to determine whether the golfclub was travelling within an acceptable speed or range, or accelerationor range for the “hit” to count. Wavelets may also be utilized tocompare valid swing signatures to eliminate count shots or eliminatefalse strikes for example. This range may vary between different clubs,for example a driver speed range may be “greater than 30 mph” while aputter speed range may be “less than 20 mph”, any range may be utilizedwith any club as desired, or the speed range may be ignored for example.Alternatively or in combination, the mobile computer may only query thegolfer to count a shot if the golfer is not moving laterally, i.e., in agolf cart or walking, and/or wherein the golfer may have rotated ortaken a shot as determined by a orientation or gyroscope sensor coupledwith the mobile computer. The position of the stroke may be shown on amap on the mobile computer for example. In addition, GPS receivers withwireless radios may be placed within the tee markers and in the cups togive daily updates of distances and helps with reading putts and greensfor example. The golfer may also wear virtual glasses that allow thegolfer to see the golf course map, current location, distance to thehole, number of shots on the current hole, total number of shots and anyother desired metric. If the user moves a certain distance, asdetermined by GPS for example, from the shot without counting the shot,the system may prompt the user on whether to count the shot or not. Thesystem does not require a user to initiate a switch on a club to count ashot and does not require LED's or active or battery powered electronicson each club to count shots. The mobile computer may also acceptgestures from the user to count a shot or not count a shot so that thegolfer does not have to remove any gloves to operate the mobilecomputer. For embodiments that utilize position/orientation sensors, thesystem may only count shots when a club is oriented vertically forexample when an impact is detected. The apparatus may also includeidentifiers that enable a specific apparatus to be identified. Theidentifiers may be a serial number for example. The identifier forexample may originate from an RFID tag on each golf club, or optionallymay include a serial number or other identifier associated with motioncapture elements associated with a golf club. Utilizing this apparatusenables the identification of a specific golfer, specific club and alsoenables motion capture and/or display with a system that includes atelevision and/or mobile device having a visual display and an optionalcamera and capable of obtaining data from at least one motion captureelement such as a visual marker and/or a wireless sensor. The system canalso integrate with standalone cameras, or cameras on multiple mobiledevices. The system also enables the user to analyze and display themotion capture data in a variety of ways that provide immediate and easyto understand graphical information associated with the motion capturedata. The apparatus enables the system to also determine how “centered”an impact is with respect to a ball and a piece of equipment, such as agolf club for example. The system also allows for fitting of equipmentincluding shoes, clubs, etc., and immediate purchasing of the equipmenteven if the equipment requires a custom assemble-to-order request from avendor. Once the motion capture data, videos or images and shot countindications are obtained by the system, they may be stored locally, forexample in a local database or sent over a telephonic or wirelessinterface to a remote database for example. Once in a database, thevarious elements including any data associated with the user, such asage, sex, height, weight, address, income or any other relatedinformation may be utilized in embodiments of the invention and/orsubjected to data mining. One or more embodiments enable users or OEMsfor example to pay for access to the data mining capabilities of thesystem.

For example, embodiments that utilize motion capture elements allow foranalyzing the data obtained from the apparatus and enable thepresentation of unique displays associated with the user, such as 3Doverlays onto images of the body of the user to visually depict thecaptured motion data. In addition, these embodiments may also utilizeactive wireless technology such as BLUETOOTH® Low Energy for a range ofup to 50 meters to communicate with a golfer's mobile computer.Embodiments of the invention also allow for display of queries forcounting a stroke for example as a result of receiving a golf club ID,for example via an RFID reader or alternatively via wirelesscommunication using BLUETOOTH® or IEEE 802.11 for example. Use ofBLUETOOTH® Low Energy chips allows for a club to be in sleep mode for upto 3 years with a standard coin cell battery, thus reducing requiredmaintenance. One or more embodiments of the invention may utilize morethan one radio, of more than one technology for example. This allows fora level of redundancy that increases robustness of the system. Forexample, if one radio no longer functions, e.g., the BLUETOOTH® radiofor example, then the IEEE 802.11 radio may be utilized to transfer dataand warn the golfer that one of the radios is not functioning, whilestill allowing the golfer to record motion data and count shotsassociated with the particular club. For embodiments of the inventionthat utilize a mobile device (or more than one mobile device) withoutcamera(s), sensor data may be utilized to generate displays of thecaptured motion data, while the mobile device may optionally obtainimages from other cameras or other mobile devices with cameras. Forexample, display types that may or may not utilize images of the usermay include ratings, calculated data and time line data. Ratingsassociated with the captured motion can also be displayed to the user inthe form of numerical or graphical data with or without a user image,for example an “efficiency” rating. Other ratings may include linearacceleration and/or rotational acceleration values for the determinationof concussions and other events for example. Calculated data, such as apredicted ball flight path data can be calculated and displayed on themobile device with or without utilizing images of the user's body. Datadepicted on a time line can also be displayed with or without images ofthe user to show the relative peaks of velocity for various parts of theequipment or user's body for example. Images from multiple camerasincluding multiple mobile devices, for example from a crowd of golffans, may be combined into a BULLET TIME® visual effect characterized byslow motion of the golf swing shown from around the golfer at variousangles at normal speed. All analyzed data may be displayed locally, oruploaded to the database along with the motion capture data,images/videos, shot count and location data where it may undergo datamining processes, wherein the system may charge a fee for access to theresults for example.

In one or more embodiments, a user may play a golf course or hit tennisballs, or alternatively simply swing to generate motion capture data forexample and when wearing virtual reality glasses, see an avatar ofanother user, whether virtual or real in an augmented realityenvironment. In other embodiments, the user moves a piece of equipmentassociated with any sport or simply move the user's own body coupledwith motion capture sensors and view a virtual reality environmentdisplayed in virtual reality glasses of the user's movement or movementof a piece of equipment so instrumented. Alternatively or incombination, a virtual reality room or other environment may be utilizedto project the virtual reality avatars and motion data. Hence,embodiments of the system may allow a user on a real golf course to playalong with another user at a different location that is not actuallyhitting balls along with a historical player whose motion data has beenanalyzed or a data mining constructed user based on one or more motioncapture data sequences, and utilized by an embodiment of the system toproject an avatar of the historical player. Each of the three playersmay play in turn, as if they were located in the same place.

Motion capture data and/or events can be displayed in many ways, forexample tweeted, to a social network during or after motion capture. Forexample, if a certain amount of exercise or motion is performed, orcalories performed, or a new sports power factor maximum has beenobtained, the system can automatically tweet the new information to asocial network site so that anyone connected to the Internet may benotified. Motion capture data, motion analyses, and videos may betransmitted in one or more embodiments to one or more social mediasites, repositories, databases, servers, other computers, viewers,displays, other mobile devices, emergency services, or public agencies.The data uploaded to the Internet, i.e., a remote database or remoteserver or memory remote to the system may be viewed, analyzed or datamined by any computer that may obtain access to the data. This allowsfor remote compliance tweeting and/or compliance and/or originalequipment manufacturers to determine for a given user what equipment forcompliance or sporting equipment for sports related embodiments isworking best and/or what equipment to suggest. Data mining also enablessuggestions for users to improve their compliance and/or the planning ofsports venues, including golf courses based on the data and/or metadataassociated with users, such as age, or any other demographics that maybe entered into the system. Remote storage of data also enables medicalapplications such as morphological analysis, range of motion over time,and diabetes prevention and exercise monitoring and complianceapplications as stated. Other applications also allow for games that usereal motion capture data from other users, or historical players whetheralive or dead after analyzing videos of the historical players forexample. Virtual reality and augmented virtual reality applications mayalso utilize the motion capture data or historical motion data. Militarypersonnel such as commanders and/or doctors may utilize the motionand/or images in determine what type of G-forces a person has undergonefrom an explosion near an Improvised Explosive Device and automaticallyroute the best type of medical aid automatically to the location of themotion capture sensor. One or more embodiments of the system may relaymotion capture data over a G-force or velocity threshold, to theircommanding officer or nearest medical personnel for example via awireless communication link. Alternatively, embodiments of the inventionmay broadcast lightweight connectionless concussion related messages toany mobile devices listening, e.g., a referee's mobile phone to aid inthe assistance of the injured player wherein the lightweight messageincludes an optional team/jersey number and an acceleration relatednumber such as a potential/probable concussion warning or indicator.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, fixed cameras such as at atennis tournament, football game, baseball game, car or motorcycle race,golf tournament or other sporting event can be utilized with a wirelessinterface located near the player/equipment having motion captureelements so as to obtain, analyze and display motion capture data. Inthis embodiment, real-time or near real-time motion data can bedisplayed on the video for augmented video replays. An increase in theentertainment level is thus created by visually displaying how fastequipment is moving during a shot, for example with rings drawn around aplayers hips and shoulders. Embodiments of the invention also allowimages or videos from other players having mobile devices to be utilizedon a mobile device related to another user so that users don't have toswitch mobile phones for example. In one embodiment, a video obtained bya first user for a piece of sporting equipment in motion that is notassociated with the second user having the video camera equipped mobilephone may automatically transfer the video to the first user for displaywith motion capture data associated with the first user. Video andimages may be uploaded into the database and data mined through imageanalysis to determine the types/colors of clothing or shoes for examplethat users are wearing.

Based on the display of data, the user can determine the equipment thatfits the best and immediately purchase the equipment, via the mobiledevice. For example, when deciding between two sets of skis, a user maytry out both pairs that are instrumented with motion capture elementswherein the motion capture data is analyzed to determine which pair ofskis enables more efficient movement. For golf embodiments, whendeciding between two golf clubs, a user can take swings with differentclubs and based on the analysis of the captured motion data andquantitatively determine which club performs better. Custom equipmentmay be ordered through an interface on the mobile device from a vendorthat can assemble-to-order customer built equipment and ship theequipment to the user for example. Shaft lengths for putters for examplethat are a standard length can be custom made for a particular userbased on captured motion data as a user putts with an adjustable lengthshaft for example. Based on data mining of the motion capture data andshot count data and distances for example allows for users havingsimilar swing characteristics to be compared against a current userwherein equipment that delivers longer shots for a given swing velocityfor a user of a particular size and age for example may be suggested orsearched for by the user to improve performance. OEMs may determine thatfor given swing speeds, which make and model of club delivers the bestoverall performance as well. One skilled in the art will recognize thatthis applies to all activities involving motion, not just golf.

Embodiments of the system may utilize a variety of sensor types. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, active sensors may integrate witha system that permits passive or active visual markers to be utilized tocapture motion of particular points on a user's body or equipment. Thismay be performed in a simply two-dimensional manner or in athree-dimensional manner if the mobile device is configured with two ormore cameras, or if multiple cameras or mobile devices are utilized tocapture images such as video and share the images in order to createtriangulated three-dimensional motion data from a set of two-dimensionalimages obtained from each camera. Another embodiment of the inventionmay utilize inertial measurement units (IMU) or any other sensors thatcan produce any combination of orientation, position, velocity and/oracceleration information to the mobile device. The sensors may thusobtain data that may include any combination of one or more valuesassociated with orientation (vertical or North/South or both), position(either via through Global Positioning System, i.e., “GPS” or throughtriangulation), velocity (in all three axes), acceleration (in all threeaxes). All motion capture data obtained from the various sensor typesmay be saved in a database for analysis, monitoring, compliance, gameplaying or other use and/or data mining, regardless of the sensor type.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a sensor may be utilizedthat includes a passive marker or active marker on an outside surface ofthe sensor, so that the sensor may also be utilized for visual tracking(either two-dimensional or three-dimensional) and for orientation,position, velocity, acceleration, angular velocity, angular accelerationor any other physical quantity produced by the sensor. Visual markerembodiments of the motion capture element(s) may be passive or active,meaning that they may either have a visual portion that is visuallytrackable or may include a light emitting element such as a lightemitting diode (LED) that allows for image tracking in low lightconditions. This for example may be implemented with a graphical symbolor colored marker at the end of the shaft near the handle or at theopposing end of the golf club at the head of the club. Images or videosof the markers may be analyzed locally or saved in the database andanalyzed and then utilized in data mining. In addition, for concussionrelated embodiments, the visual marker may emit a light that isindicative of a concussion, for example flashing yellow for a moderateconcussion and fast flashing red for a sever concussion or any othervisual or optional audio event indicators or both. As previouslydiscussed, an LCD may output a local visual encoded message so that itis not intercepted or otherwise readable by anyone not having a mobiledevice local and equipped to read the code. This enables sensitivemedical messages to only be read by a referee or local medical personnelfor a concussion or paralysis related event for example.

Embodiments of the motion capture sensors may be generally mounted on ornear one or more end or opposing ends of sporting equipment, for examplesuch as a golf club and/or anywhere in between (for EI measurements) andmay integrate with other sensors coupled to equipment, such as weapons,medical equipment, wristbands, shoes, pants, shirts, gloves, clubs,bats, racquets, balls, helmets, caps, mouthpieces, etc., and/or may beattached to a user in any possible manner. For example, a rifle todetermine where the rifle was pointing when a recoil was detected by themotion capture sensor. This data may be transmitted to a central server,for example using a mobile computer such as a mobile phone or otherdevice and analyzed for war games practice for example. In addition, oneor more embodiments of the sensor can fit into a weight port of a golfclub, and/or in the handle end of the golf club. Other embodiments mayfit into the handle of, or end of, a tennis racquet or baseball bat forexample. Embodiments that are related to safety or health monitoring maybe coupled with a cap, helmet, and/or mouthpiece or in any other type ofenclosure. One or more embodiments of the invention may also operatewith balls that have integrated sensors as well. One or more embodimentsof the mobile device may include a small mountable computer such as anIPOD® SHUFFLE® or IPOD® NANO® that may or may not have integrateddisplays, and which are small enough to mount on a shaft of a piece ofsporting equipment and not affect a user's swing. Alternatively, thesystem may calculate the virtual flight path of a ball that has come incontact with equipment moved by a player. For example with a baseballbat or tennis racquet or golf club having a sensor integrated into aweight port of other portion of the end of the club striking the golfball and having a second sensor located in the tip of the handle of thegolf club, or in one or more gloves worn by the player, an angle ofimpact can be calculated for the club. By knowing the loft of the faceof the club, an angle of flight may be calculated for the golf ball. Inaddition, by sampling the sensor at the end of the club at a high enoughspeed to determine oscillations indicative of where on the face of theclub the golf ball was struck, a quality of impact may be determined.These types of measurements and the analysis thereof help an athleteimprove, and for fitting purposes, allow an athlete to immediatelypurchase equipment that fits correctly. Centering data may be uploadedto the database and data mined for patterns related to the bats,racquets or clubs with the best centering on average, or the lowesttorsion values for example on a manufacturer basis for productimprovement. Any other unknown patterns in the data that are discoveredmay also be presented or suggested to users or search on by users, orpaid for, for example by manufacturers or users.

One or more embodiments of the sensor may contain charging features suchas mechanical eccentric weight, as utilized in some watches known as“automatic” or “self-winding” watches, optionally including a smallgenerator, or inductive charging coils for indirect electromechanicalcharging of the sensor power supply. Other embodiments may utilize plugsfor direct charging of the sensor power supply or electromechanical ormicroelectromechanical (MEMS) based charging elements. Any other type ofpower micro-harvesting technologies may be utilized in one or moreembodiments of the invention. One or more embodiments of the sensor mayutilize power saving features including gestures that power the sensoron or off. Such gestures may include motion, physical switches, contactwith the sensor, wireless commands to the sensor, for example from amobile device that is associated with the particular sensors. Otherelements that may couple with the sensor includes a battery, low powermicrocontroller, antenna and radio, heat sync, recharger and overchargesensor for example. In addition, embodiments of the invention allow forpower down of some or all of the components of the system until anelectronic signal from accelerometers or a mechanical switch determinesthat the club has moved for example.

One or more embodiments of the invention enable Elasticity Inertia or EImeasurement of sporting equipment and even body parts for example.Placement of embodiments of the sensor along the shaft of a golf club,tennis racquet, baseball bat, hockey stick, shoe, human arm or any otheritem that is not perfectly stiff enables measurement of the amount offlex at points where sensors are located or between sensors. The angulardifferences in the each sensor over time allow for not only calculationof a flex profile, but also a flex profile that is dependent on time orforce. For example, known EI machines use static weights between tosupport points to determine an EI profile. These machines thereforecannot detect whether the EI profile is dependent upon the force appliedor is dependent on the time at which the force is applied, for exampleEI profiles may be non-linear with respect to force or time. Examplematerials that are known to have different physical properties withrespect to time include Maxwell materials and non-Newtonian fluids.

A user may also view the captured motion data in a graphical form on thedisplay of the mobile device or for example on a set of glasses thatcontains a video display. The captured motion data obtained fromembodiments of the motion capture element may also be utilized toaugment a virtual reality display of user in a virtual environment.Virtual reality or augmented reality views of patterns that are found inthe database via data mining are also in keeping with the spirit of theinvention. User's may also see augmented information such as an aimassist or aim guide that shows for example where a shot should beattempted to be placed for example based on existing wind conditions, orto account for hazards, e.g., trees that are in the way of a desireddestination for a ball, i.e., the golf hole for example.

One or more embodiments of the invention include a motion eventrecognition and video synchronization system that includes at least onemotion capture element configured to couple with a user or piece ofequipment or mobile device coupled with the user. The at least onemotion capture element may include a memory, a sensor configured tocapture any combination of values associated with an orientation,position, velocity and acceleration of the at least one motion captureelement, a radio, a microcontroller coupled with the memory, the sensorand the radio. The microcontroller may be configured to collect datathat includes sensor values from the sensor, store the data in thememory, analyze the data and recognize an event within the data todetermine event data, transmit the event data associated with the eventvia the radio. The system may also include a mobile device that includesa computer, a wireless communication interface configured to communicatewith the radio to obtain the event data associated with the event,wherein the computer is coupled with wireless communication interface,wherein the computer is configured to receive the event data from thewireless communication interface. The computer may also analyze theevent data to form motion analysis data, store the event data, or themotion analysis data, or both the event data and the motion analysisdata, obtain an event start time and an event stop time from the event,request image data from camera that includes a video captured at leastduring a timespan from the event start time to the event stop time anddisplay an event video on a display that includes both the event data,the motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs duringthe timespan from the event start time to the event stop time and thevideo captured during the timespan from the event start time to theevent stop time.

Embodiments may synchronize clocks in the system using any type ofsynchronization methodology and in one or more embodiments the computeron the mobile device is further configured to determine a clockdifference between the motion capture element and the mobile device andsynchronize the motion analysis data with the video. For example, one ormore embodiments of the invention provides procedures for multiplerecording devices to synchronize information about the time, location,or orientation of each device, so that data recorded about events fromdifferent devices can be combined. Such recording devices may beembedded sensors, mobile phones with cameras or microphones, or moregenerally any devices that can record data relevant to an activity ofinterest. In one or more embodiments, this synchronization isaccomplished by exchanging information between devices so that thedevices can agree on a common measurement for time, location, ororientation. For example, a mobile phone and an embedded sensor mayexchange messages with the current timestamps of their internal clocks;these messages allow a negotiation to occur wherein the two devicesagree on a common time. Such messages may be exchanged periodically asneeded to account for clock drift or motion of the devices after aprevious synchronization. In other embodiments, multiple recordingdevices may use a common server or set of servers to obtain standardizedmeasures of time, location, or orientation. For example, devices may usea GPS system to obtain absolute location information for each device.GPS systems may also be used to obtain standardized time. NTP (NetworkTime Protocol) servers may also be used as standardized time servers.Using servers allows devices to agree on common measurements withoutnecessarily being configured at all times to communicate with oneanother.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, some of the recordingdevices are configured to detect the occurrence of various events ofinterest. Some such events may occur at specific moments in time; othersmay occur over a time interval, wherein the detection includes detectionof the start of an event and of the end of an event. These devices areconfigured to record any combination of the time, location, ororientation of the recording device along with the event data, using thesynchronized measurement bases for time, location, and orientationdescribed above.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device may be furtherconfigured to discard at least a portion of the video outside of theevent start time to the event stop. For example, in one or moreembodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices capture datacontinuously to memory while awaiting the detection of an event. Toconserve memory, some devices may be configured to store data to a morepermanent local storage medium, or to a server, only when this data isproximate in time to a detected event. For example, in the absence of anevent detection, newly recorded data may ultimately overwrite previouslyrecorded data in memory. A circular buffer may be used in someembodiments as a typical implementation of such an overwriting scheme.When an event detection occurs, the recording device may store someconfigured amount of data prior to the start of the event, and someconfigured amount of data after the end of the event, in addition tostoring the data captured during the event itself. Any pre or post timeinterval is considered part of the event start time and event stop timeso that context of the event is shown in the video for example. Savingonly the video for the event on the mobile device with camera or cameraitself saves tremendous space and drastically reduces upload times.

Embodiments of the system may further comprise a server computer remoteto the mobile device and wherein the server computer is configured todiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and return the video captured during the timespan fromthe event start time to the event stop time to the computer in themobile device.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may be configuredto transmit the event to at least one other motion capture sensor or atleast one other mobile device or any combination thereof, and whereinthe at least one other motion capture sensor or the at least one othermobile device or any combination thereof is configured to save dataassociated with the event. For example, in embodiments with multiplerecording devices operating simultaneously, one such device may detectan event and send a message to other recording devices that such anevent detection has occurred. This message can include the timestamp ofthe start and/or stop of the event, using the synchronized time basisfor the clocks of the various devices. The receiving devices, e.g.,other motion capture sensors and/or cameras may use the event detectionmessage to store data associated with the event to nonvolatile storageor to a server. The devices may be configured to store some amount ofdata prior to the start of the event and some amount of data after theend of the event, in addition to the data directly associated with theevent. In this way all devices can record data simultaneously, but usean event trigger from only one of the devices to initiate saving ofdistributed event data from multiple sources.

Embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime or a remote server may be utilized to save the video. In one ormore embodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices may notbe in direct communication with each other throughout the time period inwhich events may occur. In these situations, devices can be configuredto save complete records of all of the data they have recorded topermanent storage or to a server. Saving of only data associated withevents may not be possible in these situations because some devices maynot be able to receive event trigger messages. In these situations,saved data can be processed after the fact to extract only the relevantportions associated with one or more detected events. For example,multiple mobile devices may record video of a player or performer, andupload this video continuously to a server for storage. Separately theplayer or performer may be equipped with an embedded sensor that is ableto detect events such as particular motions or actions. Embedded sensordata may be uploaded to the same server either continuously or at alater time. Since all data, including the video streams as well as theembedded sensor data, is generally timestamped, video associated withthe events detected by the embedded sensor can be extracted and combinedon the server.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be further configured while acommunication link is open between the at least one motion capturesensor and the mobile device to discard at least a portion of the videooutside of the event start time to the event stop and save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime. Alternatively, if the communication link is not open, embodimentsof the computer may be further configured to save video and after theevent is received after the communication link is open, then discard atleast a portion of the video outside of the event start time to theevent stop and save the video from the event start time to the eventstop time with the motion analysis data that occurs from the event starttime to the event stop time. For example, in some embodiments of theinvention, data may be uploaded to a server as described above, and thelocation and orientation data associated with each device's data streammay be used to extract data that is relevant to a detected event. Forexample, a large set of mobile devices may be used to record video atvarious locations throughout a golf tournament. This video data may beuploaded to a server either continuously or after the tournament. Afterthe tournament, sensor data with event detections may also be uploadedto the same server. Post-processing of these various data streams canidentify particular video streams that were recorded in the physicalproximity of events that occurred and at the same time. Additionalfilters may select video streams where a camera was pointing in thecorrect direction to observe an event. These selected streams may becombined with the sensor data to form an aggregate data stream withmultiple video angles showing an event.

The system may obtain video from a camera coupled with the mobiledevice, or any camera that is separate from or otherwise remote from themobile device. In one or more embodiments, the video is obtained from aserver remote to the mobile device, for example obtained after a queryfor video at a location and time interval.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be configured to synchronizethe video and the event data, or the motion analysis data via imageanalysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop eventframe in the video or both, that is most closely associated with theevent start time or the event stop time or both. In one or moreembodiments of the invention, synchronization of clocks betweenrecording devices may be approximate. It may be desirable to improve theaccuracy of synchronizing data feeds from multiple recording devicesbased on the view of an event from each device. In one or moreembodiments, processing of multiple data streams is used to observesignatures of events in the different streams to assist withfine-grained synchronization. For example, an embedded sensor may besynchronized with a mobile device including a video camera, but the timesynchronization may be accurate only to within 100 milliseconds. If thevideo camera is recording video at 30 frames per second, the video framecorresponding to an event detection on the embedded sensor can only bedetermined within 3 frames based on the synchronized timestamps alone.In one embodiment of the device, video frame image processing can beused to determine the precise frame corresponding most closely to thedetected event. For instance, a shock from a snowboard hitting theground that is detected by an inertial sensor may be correlated with theframe at which the geometric boundary of the snowboard makes contactwith the ground. Other embodiments may use other image processingtechniques or other methods of detecting event signatures to improvesynchronization of multiple data feeds.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may include alocation determination element configured to determine a location thatis coupled with the microcontroller and wherein the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit the location to the computer on the mobiledevice. In one or more embodiments, the system further includes a serverwherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the location tothe server, either directly or via the mobile device, and wherein thecomputer or server is configured to form the event video from portionsof the video based on the location and the event start time and theevent stop time. For example, in one or more embodiments, the eventvideo may be trimmed to a particular length of the event, and transcodedto any or video quality, and overlaid or otherwise integrated withmotion analysis data or event data, e.g., velocity or acceleration datain any manner. Video may be stored locally in any resolution, depth, orimage quality or compression type to store video or any other techniqueto maximize storage capacity or frame rate or with any compression typeto minimize storage, whether a communication link is open or not betweenthe mobile device, at least one motion capture sensor and/or server. Inone or more embodiments, the velocity or other motion analysis data maybe overlaid or otherwise combined, e.g., on a portion beneath the video,that includes the event start and stop time, that may include any numberof seconds before and/or after the actual event to provide video of theswing before a ball strike event for example. In one or moreembodiments, the at least one motion capture sensor and/or mobiledevice(s) may transmit events and video to a server wherein the servermay determine that particular videos and sensor data occurred in aparticular location at a particular time and construct event videos fromseveral videos and several sensor events. The sensor events may be fromone sensor or multiple sensors coupled with a user and/or piece ofequipment for example. Thus the system may construct short videos thatcorrespond to the events, which greatly decreases video storagerequirements for example.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller or the computer isconfigured to determine a location of the event or the microcontrollerand the computer are configured to determine the location of the eventand correlate the location, for example by correlating or averaging thelocation to provide a central point of the event, and/or erroneouslocation data from initializing GPS sensors may be minimized. In thismanner, a group of users with mobile devices may generate videos of agolfer teeing off, wherein the event location of the at least one motioncapture device may be utilized and wherein the server may obtain videosfrom the spectators and generate an event video of the swing and ballstrike of the professional golfer, wherein the event video may utilizeframes from different cameras to generate a BULLET TIME® video fromaround the golfer as the golfer swings. The resulting video or videosmay be trimmed to the duration of the event, e.g., from the event starttime to the event stop time and/or with any pre or post predeterminedtime values around the event to ensure that the entire event is capturedincluding any setup time and any follow through time for the swing orother event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer on the mobile device mayrequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event directly by broadcasting arequest for any videos taken in the area by any cameras, optionally thatmay include orientation information related to whether the camera wasnot only located proximally to the event, but also oriented or otherwisepointing at the event. In other embodiments, the video may be requestedby the computer on the mobile device from a remote server. In thisscenario, any location and/or time associated with an event may beutilized to return images and/or video near the event or taken at a timenear the event, or both. In one or more embodiments, the computer orserver may trim the video to correspond to the event duration and again,may utilize image processing techniques to further synchronize portionsof an event, such as a ball strike with the corresponding frame in thevideo that matches the acceleration data corresponding to the ballstrike on a piece of equipment for example.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device or on the server may beconfigured to display a list of one or more times at which an event hasoccurred or wherein one or more events has occurred. In this manner, auser may find events from a list to access the event videos in rapidfashion.

Embodiments of the invention may include at least one motion capturesensor that is physically coupled with the mobile device. Theseembodiments enable any type of mobile phone or camera system with anintegrated sensor, such as any type of helmet mounted camera or anymount that includes both a camera and a motion capture sensor togenerate event data and video data.

In some embodiments the system may also include one or more computerswith a wireless communication interface that can communicate with theradios of one or more motion capture elements to receive the event dataassociated with motion events. The computer may receive raw motion data,and it may analyze this data to determine events. In other embodimentsthe determination of events may occur in the motion capture element, andthe computer may receive event data. Combinations of these twoapproaches are also possible in some embodiments.

In some embodiments the computer or computers may determine the starttime and end time of a motion event from the event data. They may thenrequest image data from a camera that has captured video or one or moreimages for some time interval at least within some portion of the timebetween this event start time and event end time. The term video in thisspecification will include individual images as well as continuousvideo, including the case of a camera that takes a single snapshot imageduring an event interval. This video data may then be associated withthe motion data form a synchronized event video. Events may be gesturedby a user by shaking or tapping a motion capture sensor a fixed numberof times for example. Any type of predefined event including usergesture events may be utilized to control at least one camera totransfer generally concise event videos without requiring the transferof huge raw video files.

In some embodiments the request of video from a camera may occurconcurrently with the capture or analysis of motion data. In suchembodiments the system will obtain or generate a notification that anevent has begun, and it will then request that video be streamed fromone or more cameras to the computer until the end of the event isdetected. In other embodiments the request of video may occur after acamera has uploaded its video records to another computer, such as aserver. In this case the computer will request video from the serverrather than directly from the camera.

Various techniques may be used to perform synchronization of motion dataand video data. Such techniques include clock synchronization methodswell-known in the art, such as the network time protocol, that ensurethat all devices—motion capture elements, computer, and cameras—use acommon time base. In another technique the computer may compare itsclock to an internal clock of the motion capture element and to aninternal clock of a camera, by exchanging packets containing the currenttime as registered by each device. Other techniques analyze motion dataand video data to align their different time bases for synchronization.For instance a particular video frame showing a contact with a ball maybe aligned with a particular data frame from motion data showing a shockin an accelerometer; these frames can then be used effectively as keyframes, to synchronize the motion data and the video data. The combinedvideo data and motion data forms a synchronized event video with anintegrated record of an event.

In one or more embodiments, a computer configured to receive or processmotion data or video data may be a mobile device, including but notlimited to a mobile telephone, a smartphone, a tablet, a PDA, a laptop,a notebook, or any other device that can be easily transported orrelocated. In other embodiments, such a computer may integrated into acamera, and in particular it may be integrated into the camera fromwhich video data is obtained. In other embodiments, such a computer maybe a desktop computer or a server computer, including but not limited tovirtual computers running as virtual machines in a data center or in acloud-based service. In some embodiments, the system may includemultiple computers of any of the above types, and these computers mayjointly perform the operations described in this specification. As willbe obvious to one skilled in the art, such a distributed network ofcomputers can divide tasks in many possible ways and can coordinatetheir actions to replicate the actions of a single centralized computerif desired. The term computer in this specification is intended to meanany or all of the above types of computers, and to include networks ofmultiple such computers acting together.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may obtain or create a sequenceof synchronized event videos. The computer may display a compositesummary of this sequence for a user to review the history of the events.For the videos associated with each event, in some embodiments thissummary may include one or more thumbnail images generated from thevideos. In other embodiments the summary may include smaller selectionsfrom the full event video. The composite summary may also includedisplay of motion analysis or event data associated with eachsynchronized event video. In some embodiments, the computer may obtain ametric and display the value of this metric for each event. The displayof these metric values may vary in different embodiments. In someembodiments the display of metric values may be a bar graph, line graph,or other graphical technique to show absolute or relative values. Inother embodiments color-coding or other visual effects may be used. Inother embodiments the numerical values of the metrics may be shown. Someembodiments may use combinations of these approaches.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may accept selection criteriafor a metric of interest associated with the motion analysis data orevent data of the sequence of events. For example, a user may providecriteria such as metrics exceeding a threshold, or inside a range, oroutside a range. Any criteria may be used that may be applied to themetric values of the events. In response to the selection criteria, thecomputer may display only the synchronized event videos or theirsummaries (such as thumbnails) that meet the selection criteria. As anexample, a user capturing golf swing event data may wish to see onlythose swings with the swing speed above 100 mph.

In some embodiments of the invention, the computer may sort and ranksynchronized event videos for display based on the value of a selectedmetric, in addition to the filtering based on selection criteria asdescribed above. Continuing the example above, the user capturing golfswing data may wish to see only those swings with swing speed above 100mph, sorted with the highest swing speed shown first.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may generate a highlight reelthat combines the video for events that satisfy selection criteria. Sucha highlight reel may include the entire video for the selected events,or a portion of the video that corresponds to the important moments inthe event as determined by the motion analysis. In some embodiments thehighlight reel may include overlays of data or graphics on the video oron selected frames showing the value of metrics from the motionanalysis. Such a highlight reel may be generated automatically for auser once the user indicates which events to include by specifyingselection criteria. In some embodiments the computer may allow the userto edit the highlight reel to add or remove events, to lengthen orshorten the video shown for each event, to add or remove graphicoverlays for motion data, or to add special effects or soundtracks.

In embodiments with multiple cameras, motion data and multiple videostreams may be combined into a single synchronized event video. Videosfrom multiple cameras may provide different angles or views of an event,all synchronized to motion data and to a common time base. In someembodiments one or more videos may be available on one or more computers(such as servers or cloud services) and may be correlated later withevent data. In these embodiments a computer may search for stored videosthat were in the correct location and orientation to view an event. Thecomputer could then retrieve the appropriate videos and combine themwith event data to form a composite view of the event with video frommultiple positions and angles.

In some embodiments the computer may select a particular video from theset of possible videos associated with an event. The selected video maybe the best or most complete view of the event based on various possiblecriteria. In some embodiments the computer may use image analysis ofeach of the videos to determine the best selection. For example, someembodiments may use image analysis to determine which video is mostcomplete in that the equipment or people of interest are least occludedor are most clearly visible. In some embodiments this image analysis mayinclude analysis of the degree of shaking of a camera during the captureof the video, and selection of the video with the most stable images. Insome embodiments a user may make the selection of a preferred video, orthe user may assist the computer in making the selection by specifyingthe most important criteria.

In some embodiments event data from a motion capture element may be usedto send control messages to a camera that can record video for theevent. In embodiments with multiple cameras, control messages could bebroadcast or could be send to a set of cameras during the event. Thesecontrol messages may modify the video recording parameters based on thedata associated with the event, including the motion analysis data. Forexample, a camera may be on standby and not recording while there is noevent of interest in progress. A computer may await event data, and oncean event starts it may send a command to a camera to begin recording.Once the event has finished, the computer may then send a command to thecamera to stop recording. Such techniques can conserve camera power aswell as video memory.

More generally in some embodiments a computer may send control messagesto a camera or cameras to modify any relevant video recording parametersin response to event data or motion analysis data. These recordingparameters may for example include the frame rate, resolution, colordepth, color or grayscale, compression method, and compression qualityof the video, as well as turning recording on or off. As an example ofwhere this may be useful, motion analysis data may indicate when a useror piece of equipment is moving rapidly; the frame rate of a videorecording could be increased during periods of rapid motion in response,and decreased during periods of relatively slow motion. By using ahigher frame rate during rapid motion, the user can slow the motion downduring playback to observe high motion events in great detail. Thesetechniques can allow cameras to conserve video memory and to useavailable memory efficiently for events of greatest interest.

In some embodiments, the computer may accept a sound track, for examplefrom a user, and integrate this sound track into the synchronized eventvideo. This integration would for example add an audio sound trackduring playback of an event video or a highlight reel. Some embodimentsmay use event data or motion analysis data to integrate the sound trackintelligently into the synchronized event video. For example, someembodiments may analyze a sound track to determine the beats of thesound track based for instance on time points of high audio amplitude.The beats of the sound track may then be synchronized with the eventusing event data or motion analysis data. For example such techniquesmay automatically speed up or slow down a sound track as the motion of auser or object increases or decreases. These techniques provide a richmedia experience with audio and visual cues associated with an event.

In one or more embodiments, a computer is configured to playback asynchronized event video on one or more displays. These displays may bedirectly attached to the computer, or may be remote on other devices.Using the event data or the motion analysis data, the computer maymodify the playback to add or change various effects. Thesemodifications may occur multiple times during playback, or evencontinuously during playback as the event data changes. For instance,during periods of low motion the playback may occur at normal speed,while during periods of high motion the playback may switch to slowmotion to highlight the details of the motion. Modifications to playbackspeed may be made based on any observed or calculated characteristics ofthe event or the motion. For instance, event data may identifyparticular sub-events of interest, such as the striking of a ball,beginning or end of a jump, or any other interesting moments. Thecomputer may modify the playback speed to slow down playback as thesynchronized event video approaches these sub-events. This slowdowncould increase continuously to highlight the sub-event in fine detail.Playback could even be stopped at the sub-event and await input from theuser to continue. Playback slowdown could also be based on the value ofone or more metrics from the motion analysis data or the event data. Forexample, motion analysis data may indicate the speed of a movingbaseball bat or golf club, and playback speed could be adjustedcontinuously to be slower as the speed of such an object increases.Playback speed could be made very slow near the peak value of suchmetrics.

In other embodiments, modifications could be made to other playbackcharacteristics not limited to playback speed. For example, the computercould modify any or all of playback speed, image brightness, imagecolors, image focus, image resolution, flashing special effects, or useof graphic overlays or borders. These modifications could be made basedon motion analysis data, event data, sub-events, or any othercharacteristic of the synchronized event video. As an example, asplayback approaches a sub-event of interest, a flashing special effectcould be added, and a border could be added around objects of interestin the video such as a ball that is about to be struck by a piece ofequipment.

In embodiments that include a sound track, modifications to playbackcharacteristics can include modifications to the playbackcharacteristics of the sound track. For example such modifications mayinclude modifications to the volume, tempo, tone, or audio specialeffects of the sound track. For instance the volume and tempo of a soundtrack may be increased as playback approaches a sub-event of interest,to highlight the sub-event and to provide a more dynamic experience forthe user watching and listening to the playback.

In one or more embodiments, a computer may use image analysis of a videoto generate a metric from an object within the video. This metric mayfor instance measure some aspect of the motion of the object. Suchmetrics derived from image analysis may be used in addition to or inconjunction with metrics obtained from motion analysis of data frommotion sensors. In some embodiments image analysis may use any ofseveral techniques known in the art to locate the pixels associated withan object of interest. For instance, certain objects may be known tohave specific colors, textures, or shapes, and these characteristics canbe used to locate the objects in video frames. As an example, a tennisball may be known to be approximately round, yellow, and of textureassociate with the ball's materials. Using these characteristics imageanalysis can locate a tennis ball in a video frame. Using multiple videoframes the approximate speed of the tennis ball could be calculated. Forinstance, assuming a stationary or almost stationary camera, thelocation of the tennis ball in three-dimensional space can be estimatedbased on the ball's location in the video frame and based on its size.The location in the frame gives the projection of the ball's locationonto the image plane, and the size provides the depth of the ballrelative to the camera. By using the ball's location in multiple frames,and by using the frame rate that gives the time difference betweenframes, the ball's velocity can be estimated. Vertical leap estimate maybe performed near a known size object such as a basketball for example.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller coupled to a motioncapture element is configured to communicate with other motion capturesensors to coordinate the capture of event data. The microcontroller maytransmit a start of event notification to another motion capture sensorto trigger that other sensor to also capture event data. The othersensor may save its data locally for later upload, or it may transmitits event data via an open communication link to a computer while theevent occurs. These techniques provide a type of master-slavearchitecture where one sensor can act as a master and can coordinate anetwork of slave sensors.

In one or more embodiments, a computer may obtain sensor values fromother sensors in addition to motion capture sensors, where these othersensors are proximal to an event and provide other useful dataassociated with the event. For example, such other sensors may sensevarious combinations of temperature, humidity, wind, elevation, light,sound and physiological metrics (like a heartbeat). The computer mayretrieve these other values and save them along with the event data andthe motion analysis data to generate an extended record of the eventduring the timespan from the event start to the event stop.

One or more embodiments may obtain and process both sensor data andvideo to analyze the motion of objects and generate motion metricsdescribing this motion. Embodiments may employ various steps andtechniques to align the data from sensors and cameras, both in time andin space. This aligned data may then be analyzed using sensor fusiontechniques to combine sensor and video data into consistent and robustmotion metrics.

One or more embodiments may obtain descriptions of one or more objectsof interest, which may include persons, equipment, or both. They maythen obtain video captured from one or more cameras, where the video maycontain images of these objects in motion. Some or all of the objects ofinterest may have motion capture elements attached to them; these motioncapture elements generate motion sensor data for the objects. One ormore embodiments may then combine these three inputs—objectdescriptions, video, and sensor data—to generate an integrated motionanalysis of the objects. The resulting motion metrics may include forexample, without limitation, linear position, linear velocity, linearacceleration, trajectory, orientation, angular velocity, angularacceleration, time of motion, time elapsed between positions, timeelapsed between start of motion and arriving at a position, and time ofimpact.

Video analysis of object motion may include identifying the objects ofinterest in a set of frames selected from the video for analysis. Objectidentification may use a set of distinguishing visual characteristicsfor each object, which allow the embodiment to identify the objects inthe selected video frames. These distinguishing visual characteristicsmay include, for example, without limitation, shape, curvature, size,color, luminance, hue, saturation, texture, and pixel pattern. Someembodiments may search all pixels of all of the selected frames for theobjects of interest; some embodiments may instead use variousoptimizations to search only in selected areas of frames likely tocontain the objects of interest.

In one or more embodiments, a camera may be in motion during videocapture. In order to analyze motion of the objects in the frames, it maytherefore be desirable to distinguish this true object motion from theapparent motion of objects caused by camera motion. One or moreembodiments therefore may use techniques to determine the pose (locationor orientation) of the camera for each frame. True object motion maythen be determined by determining the object pose relative to the camerapose in each frame, and then transforming this object pose to a commoncoordinate system, using the camera pose for each frame.

One or more embodiments may obtain motion capture data for one or moreof the objects of interest from motion capture elements, for examplefrom motion sensors attached to the objects. The motion capture data maythen be synchronized with the video frames. Then motion capture data maybe combined with video analysis data to form motion metrics for theobjects. Embodiments may use various sensor fusion techniques to combinethis data from different sources into integrated motion metrics.

One or more embodiments of the method may synchronize video frames andsensor data by finding a signature of the same event in both the videoand the sensor data, and aligning the frame containing the videosignature with the sensor timestamp of the sensor sample containing thesensor data signature. One or more embodiments may synchronize videoframes and sensor data by calculating a motion metric for a selectedreference object from both the video frames and the sensor data, andfinding a time shift between the video motion metric and the sensormotion metric that best aligns the two motion metric graphs. In someembodiments a maximum clock difference between the sensor data and thevideo frames may be known in advance; in these embodiments the searchesfor matching event signatures or for time shifts to align motion metricsmay optimized by searching only within the known clock difference.

In one or more embodiments, motion analysis may include finding one ormore events of interest. Events may be located in video frames usingvideo signatures, and in sensor data using sensor data signatures. Someactivities may trigger one of these signatures erroneously, where theactivity is not a true event but instead a false positive. One or moreembodiments may combine a video signature and a sensor data signature tofilter out false positives; for example, if an activity matches a sensordata signature but does not match the corresponding video signature, theactivity can be classified as a false positive. True events may bedetermined when both the video signature and the sensor data signatureare present. One or more embodiments may use multi-stage tests to signala prospective event, and then use either a video signature or a sensordata signature, or both, to confirm that the prospective event is avalid event.

One or more embodiments may use visual markers as objects of interest,or may use visual markers that are attached to objects or to motioncapture elements attached to objects. The patterns of the visual markersmay form part of the distinguishing visual characteristics for theobjects. The visual markers may be designed to have no rotationalsymmetries, so that different orientations of the markers can bedifferentiated using video analysis. The visual markers may also beconfigured with high visibility color.

One or more embodiments may preprocess the video frames to facilitatesearching for objects of interest; preprocessing may include, forexample, without limitation, noise removal, flicker removal, smoothing,color space conversion, color or brightness balancing, and shadowremoval.

One or more embodiments may use sensors to measure the camera pose forthe selected video frames. The measured camera pose may be used totransform object poses to a common coordinate system.

One or more embodiments may determine the pose of an identified objectin a frame relative to the camera pose for that frame using one or moreof the following techniques: a ray on which the object lies may bedetermined from the location of object in the frame; the relativedistance of the object from the camera may be determined from theapparent size of object in the frame compared to the object's true size;the orientation the object relative to the camera may be determined bycalculating a rotation that minimizes the difference between a referencepixel pattern for the object and the pixel pattern for the object in theframe. A reference pixel pattern for an object may be one of thedistinguishing visual characteristics for the object, or it may beobtained from the object's appearance in a designated reference frame.

One or more embodiments may create or obtain a physical model of theprobable trajectories of one or more objects, and use this physicalmodel to estimate a high probability region within each frame for thelocation of object. Searching frames for the object may then beoptimized by searching within these high probability regions.

In embodiments without camera sensors to determine camera pose, it maybe desirable to estimate the camera pose for each frame by aligning eachframe with the previous frame to compensate for camera motion. Once eachframe is aligned with the previous frame, frame differences between canbe calculated to determine high motion regions containing movingobjects. Searching frames for objects of interest may then be optimizedby searching within these high motion regions.

One or more embodiments may use the following technique to align a framewith the previous frame, to compensate for camera motion. First a frametranslation may be determined to minimize the pixel differences betweena center region of a frame and the center region of the previous frameafter applying the frame translation. Then each frame may be dividedinto tiles, and a local tile translation may be determined for each tilethat minimizes the pixel differences between the tile and thecorresponding tile of the previous frame after applying the frametranslation and the local tile translation.

One or more embodiments may calculate a time of impact for one or moreobjects of interest as one of the motion metrics. This time of impactmay be calculated by detecting a discontinuity in a motion metricbetween successive frames. This technique may determine an impact frame,but it may not in some cases be able to determine a precise inter-frameimpact time. One or more embodiments may determine a more precise impacttime by extrapolating the trajectory of an object forward from theframes prior to impact, extrapolating the trajectory this objectbackwards from the frames after impact, and calculating the time ofintersection these two trajectories as the precise impact time.

In one or more embodiments, there may be a desired trajectory for anobject; for example, hitting golf ball so that its trajectory goes intothe hole. One or more embodiments may compare this desired trajectorywith an observed trajectory, and report the trajectory differences as amotion metric. One or more embodiments may determine the changes in theinitial conditions of an object trajectory that would be needed totransform the observed trajectory into the desired trajectory. Initialconditions may for example include the initial speed and orientation ofthe object. For golf, as an example, initial conditions may include thespeed and aim of a golf clubhead at the time of impact with the golfball.

One or more embodiments may generate a set of highlight frames or failframes from a video, where the highlight frames or fail frames includean activity of interest. The activity of interest may be identified withone or more activity signatures; for example, sensor data may be used todetermine when certain motion metrics fall within or outside particularranges that determine activities of interest. As an example, a jump maybe determined by scanning accelerometer data to find accelerometervalues near zero, which may indicate that an object is in free fall. Anepic fail representing a crash may be determined by scanning velocitydata looking for a sharp transition between a high velocity and a zeroor very low velocity. Highlight or fail frames may also include certainframes before or after an activity of interest. Highlight or fail framesmay be transmitted to one or more of a repository, a viewer, a server, acomputer, a social media site, a mobile device, a network, and anemergency service. One or more embodiments may overlay highlight or failframes with data or graphics representing the values of motion metrics.One or more embodiments may send messages to the camera that capturedthe video instructing the camera to discard portions the video otherthan the highlight or fail frames.

One or more embodiments may calculate an elapsed time for an activity asa motion metric. The starting time for the activity may for example bedetermined using motion capture data to detect a signature correspondingto the beginning the activity. The finishing time for the activity mayfor example be determined using video analysis to detect a signaturecorresponding to the completion of the activity; for example, a camerapositioned at a finish line may detect an object crossing the finishline.

One or more embodiments of the method may create a synchronized eventvideo for an event that synchronizes the video with event data receivedfrom motion capture elements. This synchronization may calculate eventdata or receive event data from the motion capture elements, and obtainan event start time and an event stop time from the event data. It mayobtain a video start time and a video stop time associated with thevideo. It may then create a synchronized event video by associatingaligning an event time between the event start time and the event stoptime with a video time between the video start time and the video stoptime. One or more embodiments may overlay event data onto thesynchronized event video. One or more embodiments may command the camerato transfer the synchronized event video to another computer, withouttransferring a portion of the video outside of time interval between theevent start time and the event stop time. One or more embodiments mayalso command the camera to discard a portion of the video outside oftime interval between the event start time and the event stop time.

One or more embodiments may detect and eliminate false positive eventsby first identifying a prospective event using a first set of criteria,and then determine whether the prospective event is a valid event usinga second set of criteria. The first set of criteria may for exampleinclude having a first value from motion capture data above a firstthreshold value, and also having a second value from the motion capturedata above a second threshold value within a time window around thesample including the first value. The second set of criteria may forexample compare the prospective event to a characteristic signalassociated with a typical event, or compare the video during theprospective event with a characteristic image associated with thistypical event, or both.

Embodiments of the invention may combine data from multiple sensors,possibly of different types or modalities, that track combinations ofplayers, equipment, and projectiles such as balls. Sensor data may betransmitted to an event analysis and tagging system over wired orwireless communications interfaces. The event analysis and taggingsystem may include one or more processors that analyze the sensor data.Sensor data may be synchronized to a common time scale, and analyzed forevent detection and for generation of metrics describing the event.

Sensors may include for example, without limitation, inertial motionsensors, video cameras, light gates, light curtains, and radars.Inertial motion sensors may include for example accelerometers,gyroscopes, magnetometers, or more generally any sensor that measuresone or more of position, orientation, linear or angular velocity, orlinear or angular acceleration. Combinations of sensor modalities may beused. For example, an embodiment of the system may track a player usinga video camera, track the speed of a ball using a radar, and track apiece of equipment such as a bat using an inertial motion sensor.Another embodiment may for example track a piece of equipment with aninertial motion sensor on the equipment, and track a projectile (such asa ball) using another inertial motion sensor embedded in the projectile.

Sensors may be attached to or may otherwise measure or observe motion ofpieces of equipment, including but not limited to sports equipment.Equipment may be worn by, attached to, carried by, or used by one ormore players in an event. Equipment tracked by the sensors of the systemmay include for example, without limitation, a bat, a racquet, a paddle,a golf club, a bow, a gun, a slingshot, a sabre, a quarterstaff, alacrosse stick, a hockey stick, a field hockey stick, a polo mallet, acroquet mallet, a pool cue, a shuffleboard cue, a glove, a shoe, a belt,a watch, a helmet, a cap, a ski, a snowboard, a skateboard, a surfboard,an ice skate, a sled, a luge, a windsurfing board, a hang glider, aroller skate, a roller blade, a vehicle, a snowmobile, a jet ski, abicycle, a tricycle, a unicycle, a motorcycle, a snowmobile, and amechanical bull.

Some sporting events or other activities involve projectiles such asballs. Projectiles may be thrown by, caught by, carried by, kicked by,or struck by players. In some activities players may use equipment tohit, catch, or carry a projectile. Projectiles tracked by the sensors ofthe system may include for example, without limitation, a ball, afootball, a rugby ball, an Australian rules football, a soccer ball, avolleyball, a water polo ball, a polo ball, a basketball, a lacrosseball, a field hockey ball, a croquet ball, a billiard ball, a horseshoe,a shuffleboard disc, a tennis ball, a ping pong ball, a racquet ball, ahand ball, a bocce ball, a lawn dart, a squash ball, a shuttlecock, abaseball, a softball, a golf ball, a bowling ball, a hockey puck, adodgeball, a kick ball, a Wiffle™ ball, a javelin, a shot put, a discus,a marble, a bullet, an arrow, a knife, a throwing star, a bolas, agrenade, a water balloon, a boomerang, a Frisbee™, a caber, and acurling stone.

In many sports a player swings a piece of equipment in attempt to hit orotherwise contact a projectile. Examples include bats hitting baseballs,tennis rackets hitting tennis balls, and polo mallets hitting poloballs. Embodiments of the invention may measure a swing event bycombining information on the motion of the projectile and the motion ofthe equipment hitting (or attempting to hit) the projectile. Forexample, in baseball or softball, one or more embodiments may combinesensor data on bat motion and sensor data on ball motion to calculate areaction time metric, which may be defined for example as the elapsedtime between a ball leaving a pitcher and the start of a forward swingof a bat to hit the ball.

One or more embodiments may analyze a swing event by calculating atrajectory over time of the projectile and a trajectory over time of theequipment as it hits or attempts to hit the projectile. The equipmenttrajectory may for example track the location over time of a preferredhitting location on the equipment, such as the sweet spot of a bat forexample. Metrics may be calculated by analyzing the combination of theequipment and projectile trajectories. For example, one or moreembodiments may first calculate a point on the projectile trajectorythat represents an optimal hitting point. A projectile may reach thispoint at a particular point in time, which is the optimal hitting time.A swing accuracy metric may then be derived from the vector differencebetween the optimal hitting location and the location on the equipmenttrajectory at the optimal hitting time. A poor swing may be due toeither spatial deviation (the swing did not go to the right location) ortemporal deviation (the swing arrived at the right location, but tooearly or too late). One or more embodiments may calculate a spatialdeviation metric derived from the vector difference between the optimalhitting location and the closest point on the equipment trajectory tothis optimal hitting location. A temporal deviation metric may bederived from the difference in time between the optimal hitting time andthe time that the equipment trajectory reached this closest approachpoint to the optimal hitting location.

Embodiments of the invention may automatically generate or select onemore tags for events, based for example on analysis of sensor data.Event data with tags may be stored in an event database for subsequentretrieval and analysis. Tags may represent for example, withoutlimitation, activity types, players, timestamps, stages of an activity,performance levels, or scoring results.

One or more embodiments may also analyze media such as text, audio,images, or videos from social media sites or other servers to generate,modify, or confirm event tags. Media analyzed may include for example,without limitation, email messages, voice calls, voicemails, audiorecordings, video calls, video messages, video recordings, textmessages, chat messages, postings on social media sites, postings onblogs, or postings on wikis. Sources of media for analysis may includefor example, without limitation, an email server, a social media site, aphoto sharing site, a video sharing site, a blog, a wiki, a database, anewsgroup, an RSS server, a multimedia repository, a documentrepository, and a text message server. Analysis may include searching oftext for key words and phrases related to an event. Event tags and otherevent data may be published to social media sites or to other servers orinformation systems.

One or more embodiments may provide the capability for users to manuallyadd tags to events, and to filter or query events based on the automaticor manual tags. Embodiments of the system may generate a video highlightreel for a selected set of events matching a set of tags. One or moreembodiments may discard portions of video based on the event analysisand tagging; for example, analysis may indicate a time interval withsignificant event activity, and video outside this time interval may bediscarded, e.g., to save tremendous amounts of memory, and/or nottransferred to another computer to save significant time in uploadingthe relevant events without the non-event data for example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be more apparent from the following more particular descriptionthereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system that implements aspects ofthe invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates a logical hardware block diagram of an embodiment ofthe computer.

FIG. 1B illustrates an architectural view of an embodiment of thedatabase utilized in embodiments of the system.

FIG. 1C illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of the processingperformed by embodiments of the computers in the system as shown inFIGS. 1 and 1A.

FIG. 1D illustrates a data flow diagram for an embodiment of the system.

FIG. 1E illustrates a synchronization chart that details the shifting ofmotion event times and/or video event times to align correctly in time.

FIG. 2A illustrates a helmet based mount that surrounds the head of auser wherein the helmet based mount holds a motion capture sensor. FIG.2B illustrates a neck insert based mount that enables retrofittingexisting helmets with a motion capture sensor.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the mount of FIGS. 2A-B showing theisolator between the motion capture sensor and external portion of thehelmet.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top cross sectional view of the helmet, padding,cranium, and brain of a user. FIG. 4B illustrates a rotationalconcussion event for the various elements shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates the input force to the helmet, G1, versus theobserved force within the brain and as observed by the sensor whenmounted within the isolator.

FIG. 6 illustrates the rotational acceleration values of the 3 axesalong with the total rotational vector amount along with video of theconcussion event as obtained from a camera and displayed with the motionevent data.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline display of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline. In addition, a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf clubalong with the droop and drift of the golf club is shown in the bottomdisplay wherein these values determine how much the golf club shaft isbending in two axes as plotted against time.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sub-event scrub timeline that enables inputs nearthe start/stop points in time associated with sub-events to be scrolledto, played to or from, to easily enable viewing of sub-events.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative locations along the timeline wheresub-events start and stop and the gravity associated with the start andstop times, which enable user inputs near those points to gravitate tothe start and stop times.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment that utilizes a mobile device as themotion capture element and another mobile device as the computer thatreceives the motion event data and video of the first user event.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the memory utilized to store datarelated to a potential event.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the functionalityspecifically programmed into the microcontroller to determine whether aprospective event has occurred.

FIG. 13 illustrates a typical event signature or template, which iscompared to motion capture data to eliminate false positive events.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture elementconfigured with optional LED visual indicator for local display andviewing of event related information and an optional LCD configured todisplay a text or encoded message associated with the event.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of templates characteristic of motionevents associated with different types of equipment and/or instrumentedclothing along with areas in which the motion capture sensor personalitymay change to more accurately or more efficiently capture dataassociated with a particular period of time and/or sub-event.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a protective mouthpiece in frontview and at the bottom portion of the figure in top view, for example asworn in any contact sport such as, but not limited to soccer, boxing,football, wrestling or any other sport for example.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the algorithm utilized by anycomputer in FIG. 1 that is configured to display motion images andmotion capture data in a combined format.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of the synchronization architecturethat may be utilized by one or more embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 19 illustrates the detection of an event by one of the motioncapture sensors, transmission of the event detection to other motioncapture sensors and/or cameras, saving of the event motion data andtrimming of the video to correspond to the event.

FIG. 20 illustrates the process of culling a video for event videos, andselection of a best video clip for an event period where multiplecameras captured videos of the same event, along with a selectedsequence of synchronized event videos based on a selected metric, alongwith event videos sorted by selection criteria.

FIG. 21 illustrates image analysis to select a particular event videobased on the degree of shaking of a camera during the capture of thevideo, and selection of the video with the most stable images.

FIG. 22 illustrates control messages sent to the camera or cameras tomodify the video recording parameters based on the data associated withthe event, including the motion analysis data, for example while theevent is occurring.

FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of variable speed playback usingmotion data.

FIG. 24 illustrates image analysis of a video to assist withsynchronization of the video with event data and motion analysis dataand/or determine a motion characteristic of an object in the video notcoupled with a motion capture sensor.

FIG. 25 illustrates a flowchart of an embodiment of a method forintegrated sensor and video motion analysis, showing the major input,processing, and output steps of the method.

FIG. 26 shows examples of objects of interest and of distinguishingvisual characteristics associated with these objects.

FIG. 27 illustrates an example with a moving object and a moving camera,illustrating the issue of distinguishing true objection motion when thecamera is also moving.

FIG. 28 continues the example of FIG. 27, showing how true object motionmay be determined after correcting for changes in camera pose.

FIG. 29 illustrates an example of sensor fusion that combines motionmetrics generated from video analysis with corresponding metricsgenerated from motion capture data.

FIG. 30 illustrates an embodiment that synchronizes video frames andsensor data using event signatures to find a common event in both thevideo frames and the sensor data.

FIG. 31 illustrates an embodiment that synchronizes video frames andsensor data by calculating a motion metric from video and from sensordata, and finding the time shift that matches the motion metric graphsfrom these two sources.

FIG. 32 illustrates an embodiment that combines a sensor data signatureand a video signature of an event to distinguish false positive eventsfrom true events.

FIG. 32A illustrates an embodiment that uses a two-stage thresholdcomparison to determine a prospective event, and then classifies thatprospective event as either a false positive or a valid event based onboth video signatures and sensor data signatures of typical events.

FIG. 33 illustrates an embodiment that uses a visual marker on a motioncapture element, which has no rotational symmetries in order tofacilitate determination of orientation.

FIG. 34 illustrates an example of calculating the location of an objectin three-dimensional space from its location and apparent size in avideo frame.

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of calculating the orientation of anobject from the orientation of a visual marker in a video frame.

FIG. 36 illustrates an embodiment that uses a physical model of anobject trajectory to generate a probable region where the object appearsin successive video frames.

FIG. 37 illustrates an embodiment that uses frame differencing todetermine frame regions with motion, in order to locate moving objects.

FIG. 38 illustrates an embodiment that uses a two-stage process to alignframes with previous frames to compensate for camera motion; thisprocess first calculates an overall frame translation, and then a localtranslation for tiles within the frame.

FIG. 39 illustrates an embodiment that detects the time of an impact byfinding a discontinuity in a motion metric, and that generates a preciseinter-frame time of impact using trajectories before and after impact.

FIG. 40 illustrates an embodiment that compares an observed trajectory,here of a golf ball, to a desired trajectory, and that calculateschanges in initial conditions necessary to achieve the desiredtrajectory.

FIG. 41 illustrates an embodiment that uses sensor data to identifyhighlight frames, displays highlight frames with motion metrics, anddiscards frames outside the highlighted timeframe.

FIG. 41A illustrates an embodiment that uses sensor data to identifyepic fail frames, displays these fail frames with motion metrics, anddiscards frames outside the fail timeframe.

FIG. 42 illustrates an embodiment that calculates an elapsed time of anactivity by using sensor data to detect the start time, and videoanalysis to detect the finish time.

FIG. 43 illustrates an embodiment that uses different types of sensorsto measure motions of a baseball player, a bat, and a baseball, and thatanalyzes events involving combinations of these items; sensorsillustrated include inertial motion sensors, a video camera, a radar,and a light gate.

FIG. 44 illustrates an embodiment that uses different types of sensorsto measure motion of multiple soccer players and of a soccer ball, andto detect scoring in soccer goal.

FIG. 45 illustrates time synchronization of data from different types ofsensors; in this example video data is synchronized with inertial sensormotion data using an impact event as the point of synchronization.

FIG. 46 shows illustrative metrics derived from the system shown in FIG.45; for example, a batter's reaction time can be calculated by measuringball travel time from a pitcher from video analysis, and by measuringthe start of bat motion using an inertial sensor on the bat.

FIG. 47 illustrates an embodiment that calculates a trajectory over timeof a baseball and of a baseball bat, using video analysis and inertialsensor analysis respectively for the ball and the bat.

FIGS. 48A and 48B show illustrative trajectories (in two dimensions forsimplicity) of a projectile (p) and a piece of equipment (e) that aplayer is swinging to hit the projectile. FIG. 48A illustrates a misswhere the trajectories do not intersect at all in space. FIG. 48Billustrates a different type of miss where the trajectories overlap, butthey reach the intersecting point at different times.

FIG. 49 shows illustrative metrics calculated from the trajectories of aprojectile and a piece of equipment as shown in FIG. 48A.

FIG. 50 illustrates an embodiment that automatically adds tags to anevent based on analysis of sensor data, and stores the tags along withthe metrics and sensor data for the event in an event database.

FIG. 51 shows an illustrative user interface that supports filtering ofevents by tag values, adding manually selected tags to events, andgeneration of a highlight reel containing video for a selected set ofevents.

FIG. 52 illustrates an embodiment that analyzes social media postings togenerate tags for an event.

FIG. 53 illustrates an embodiment that discards a portion of a videocapture not related to an event, and saves the relevant portion of thevideo along with the event and the event tags.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system will now be described.In the following exemplary description numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of embodimentsof the invention. It will be apparent, however, to an artisan ofordinary skill that the present invention may be practiced withoutincorporating all aspects of the specific details described herein. Inother instances, specific features, quantities, or measurements wellknown to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described indetail so as not to obscure the invention. Readers should note thatalthough examples of the invention are set forth herein, the claims, andthe full scope of any equivalents, are what define the metes and boundsof the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment 100 of a system that implements aspectsof an integrated sensor and video motion analysis method. Embodimentsenable event based viewing and low power transmission of events andcommunication with an app executing on a mobile device and/or withexternal cameras to designate windows that define the events. Enablesrecognition of motion events, and designation of events within images orvideos, such as a shot, move or swing of a player, a concussion of aplayer, boxer, rider or driver, or a heat stroke, hypothermia, seizure,asthma attack, epileptic attack or any other sporting or physical motionrelated event including walking and falling. Events may be correlatedwith one or more images or video as captured from internal/externalcamera or cameras or nanny cam, for example to enable saving video ofthe event, such as the first steps of a child, violent shaking events,sporting events including concussions, or falling events associated withan elderly person. As shown, embodiments of the system generally includea mobile device 101 and applications that execute thereon, that includescomputer 160, shown as located internally in mobile device 101 as adotted outline, (i.e., also see functional view of computer 160 in FIG.1A), display 120 coupled to computer 160 and a wireless communicationsinterface (generally internal to the mobile device, see element 164 inFIG. 1A) coupled with the computer. Since mobile phones having mobilecomputers are ubiquitous, users of the system may purchase one or moremotion capture elements and an application, a.k.a., “app”, that theyinstall on their pre-existing phone to implement an embodiment of thesystem. Motion capture capabilities are thus available at an affordableprice for any user that already owns a mobile phone, tablet computer,music player, etc., which has never been possible before.

Each mobile device 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b may optionally include aninternal identifier reader 190, for example an RFID reader, or maycouple with an identifier reader or RFID reader (see mobile device 102)to obtain identifier 191. Alternatively, embodiments of the inventionmay utilize any wireless technology in any of the devices to communicatean identifier that identifies equipment 110 to the system. Embodimentsof the invention may also include any other type of identifier coupledwith the at least one motion capture sensor or the user or the piece ofequipment. In one or more embodiments, the identifier may include a teamand jersey number or student identifier number or license number or anyother identifier that enables relatively unique identification of aparticular event from a particular user or piece of equipment. Thisenables team sports or locations with multiple players or users to beidentified with respect to the app that is configured to receive dataassociated with a particular player or user. One or more embodimentsreceive the identifier, for example a passive RFID identifier or MACaddress or other serial number associated with the player or user andassociate the identifier with the event data and motion analysis data.

The system generally includes at least one motion capture element 111that couples with user 150 or with piece of equipment 110, via mount192, for example to a golf club, or baseball bat, tennis racquet, hockeystick, weapon, stick, sword, or any other piece of equipment for anysport, or other sporting equipment such as a shoe, belt, gloves,glasses, hat, or any other item. The at least one motion capture element111 may be placed at one end, both ends, or anywhere between both endsof piece of equipment 110 or anywhere on user 150, e.g., on a cap,headband, helmet, mouthpiece or any combination thereof, and may also beutilized for EI measurements of any item. The motion capture element mayoptionally include a visual marker, either passive or active, and/or mayinclude a wireless sensor, for example any sensor capable of providingany combination of one or more values associated with an orientation(North/South and/or up/down), position, velocity and/or acceleration ofthe motion capture element. The computer may be configured to obtaindata associated with an identifier unique to each piece of equipment110, e.g., clothing, bat, etc., for example from an RFID coupled withclub 110, i.e., identifier 191, and optionally associated with the atleast one motion capture element, either visually or wirelessly, analyzethe data to form motion analysis data and display the motion analysisdata on display 120 of mobile device 101. Motion capture element 111 maybe mounted on or near the equipment or on or near the user via motioncapture mount 192. Motion capture element 111 mounted on a helmet forexample may include an isolator comprising a material that is configuredto surround the motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and an observedrotational acceleration of the user's brain. This lowers processingrequirements on the motion capture element microcontroller for exampleand enables low memory utilization and lower power requirements forevent based transmission of event data. The motion capture data frommotion capture element 111, any data associated with the piece ofequipment 110, such as identifier 191 and any data associated with user150, or any number of such users 150, such as second user 152 may bestored in locally in memory, or in a database local to the computer orin a remote database, for example database 172 for example that may becoupled with a server. Data may be stored in database 172 from each user150, 152 for example when a network or telephonic network link isavailable from motion capture element 111 to mobile device 101 and frommobile device 101 to network 170 or Internet 171 and to database 172.Data mining is then performed on a large data set associated with anynumber of users and their specific characteristics and performanceparameters. For example, in a golf embodiment of the invention, a clubID is obtained from the golf club and a shot is detected by the motioncapture element. Mobile computer 101 stores images/video of the user andreceives the motion capture data for the events/hits/shots/motion andthe location of the event on the course and subsequent shots anddetermines any parameters for each event, such as distance or speed atthe time of the event and then performs any local analysis and displayperformance data on the mobile device. When a network connection fromthe mobile device to network 170 or Internet 171 is available or forexample after a round of golf, the images/video, motion capture data andperformance data is uploaded to database 172, for later analysis and/ordisplay and/or data mining. In one or more embodiments, users 151, suchas original equipment manufacturers pay for access to the database, forexample via a computer such as computer 105 or mobile computer 101 orfrom any other computer capable of communicating with database 172 forexample via network 170, Internet 171 or via website 173 or a serverthat forms part of or is coupled with database 172. Data mining mayexecute on database 172, for example that may include a local servercomputer, or may be run on computer 105 or mobile device 101, 102, 102 aor 102 b and access a standalone embodiment of database 172 for example.Data mining results may be displayed on mobile device 101, computer 105,television broadcast or web video originating from camera 130, 130 a and103 b, or 104 or accessed via website 173 or any combination thereof.

One or more embodiments of the at least one motion capture element mayfurther include a light emitting element configured to output light ifthe event occurs. This may be utilized to display a potential, mild orsevere level of concussion on the outer portion of the helmet withoutany required communication to any external device for example. Differentcolors or flashing intervals may also be utilized to relay informationrelated to the event. Alternatively, or in combination, the at least onemotion capture element may further include an audio output elementconfigured to output sound if the event occurs or if the at least onemotion capture sensor is out of range of the computer or wherein thecomputer is configured to display and alert if the at least one motioncapture sensor is out of range of the computer, or any combinationthereof. Embodiments of the sensor may also utilize an LCD that outputsa coded analysis of the current event, for example in a Quick Response(QR) code or bar code for example so that a referee may obtain asnapshot of the analysis code on a mobile device locally, and so thatthe event is not viewed in a readable form on the sensor or wirelesslytransmitted and intercepted by anyone else.

One or more embodiments of the system may utilize a mobile device thatincludes at least one camera 130, for example coupled to the computerwithin the mobile device. This allows for the computer within mobiledevice 101 to command the camera 130 to obtain an image or images, forexample of the user during an athletic movement. The image(s) of theuser may be overlaid with displays and ratings to make the motionanalysis data more understandable to a human for example. Alternatively,detailed data displays without images of the user may also be displayedon display 120 or for example on the display of computer 105. In thismanner two-dimensional images and subsequent display thereof is enabled.If mobile device 101 contains two cameras, as shown in mobile device102, i.e., cameras 130 a and 130 b, then the cameras may be utilized tocreate a three-dimensional data set through image analysis of the visualmarkers for example. This allows for distances and positions of visualmarkers to be ascertained and analyzed. Images and/or video from anycamera in any embodiments of the invention may be stored on database172, for example associated with user 150, for data mining purposes. Inone or more embodiments of the invention image analysis on the imagesand/or video may be performed to determine make/models of equipment,clothes, shoes, etc., that is utilized, for example per age of user 150or time of day of play, or to discover any other pattern in the data.

Alternatively, for embodiments of mobile devices that have only onecamera, multiple mobile devices may be utilized to obtaintwo-dimensional data in the form of images that is triangulated todetermine the positions of visual markers. In one or more embodiments ofthe system, mobile device 101 and mobile device 102 a share image dataof user 150 to create three-dimensional motion analysis data. Bydetermining the positions of mobile devices 101 and 102 (via positiondetermination elements such as GPS chips in the devices as is common, orvia cell tower triangulation and which are not shown for brevity but aregenerally located internally in mobile devices just as computer 160 is),and by obtaining data from motion capture element 111 for examplelocations of pixels in the images where the visual markers are in eachimage, distances and hence speeds are readily obtained as one skilled inthe art will recognize.

Camera 103 may also be utilized either for still images or as is nowcommon, for video. In embodiments of the system that utilize externalcameras, any method of obtaining data from the external camera is inkeeping with the spirit of the system including wireless communicationof the data, or via wired communication as when camera 103 is dockedwith computer 105 for example, which then may transfer the data tomobile device 101.

In one or more embodiments of the system, the mobile device on which themotion analysis data is displayed is not required to have a camera,i.e., mobile device 102 b may display data even though it is notconfigured with a camera. As such, mobile device 102 b may obtain imagesfrom any combination of cameras on mobile device 101, 102, 102 a, camera103 and/or television camera 104 so long as any external camera maycommunicate images to mobile device 102 b. Alternatively, no camera isrequired at all to utilize the system. See also FIG. 17.

For television broadcasts, motion capture element 111 wirelesslytransmits data that is received by antenna 106. The wireless sensor datathus obtained from motion capture element 111 is combined with theimages obtained from television camera 104 to produce displays withaugmented motion analysis data that can be broadcast to televisions,computers such as computer 105, mobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b orany other device configured to display images. The motion analysis datacan be positioned on display 120 for example by knowing the location ofa camera (for example via GPS information), and by knowing the directionand/or orientation that the camera is pointing so long as the sensordata includes location data (for example GPS information). In otherembodiments, visual markers or image processing may be utilized to lockthe motion analysis data to the image, e.g., the golf clubhead can betracked in the images and the corresponding high, middle and lowposition of the club can be utilized to determine the orientation ofuser 150 to camera 130 or 104 or 103 for example to correctly plot theaugmented data onto the image of user 150. By time stamping images andtime stamping motion capture data, for example after synchronizing thetimer in the microcontroller with the timer on the mobile device andthen scanning the images for visual markers or sporting equipment atvarious positions, simplified motion capture data may be overlaid ontothe images. Any other method of combining images from a camera andmotion capture data may be utilized in one or more embodiments of theinvention. Any other algorithm for properly positioning the motionanalysis data on display 120 with respect to a user (or any otherdisplay such as on computer 105) may be utilized in keeping with thespirit of the system. For example, when obtaining events or groups ofevents via the sensor, after the app receives the events and/or timeranges to obtain images, the app may request image data from that timespan from it's local memory, any other mobile device, any other type ofcamera that may be communicated with and/or post event locations/timesso that external camera systems local to the event(s) may provide imagedata for the times of the event(s).

One such display that may be generated and displayed on mobile device101 include a BULLET TIME® view using two or more cameras selected frommobile devices 101, 102, 102 a, camera 103, and/or television camera 104or any other external camera. In this embodiment of the system, thecomputer is configured to obtain two or more images of user 150 and dataassociated with the at least one motion capture element (whether avisual marker or wireless sensor), wherein the two or more images areobtained from two or more cameras and wherein the computer is configuredto generate a display that shows slow motion of user 150 shown fromaround the user at various angles at normal speed. Such an embodimentfor example allows a group of fans to create their own BULLET TIME® shotof a golf pro at a tournament for example. The shots may be sent tocomputer 105 and any image processing required may be performed oncomputer 105 and broadcast to a television audience for example. Inother embodiments of the system, the users of the various mobile devicesshare their own set of images, and or upload their shots to a websitefor later viewing for example. Embodiments of the invention also allowimages or videos from other players having mobile devices to be utilizedon a mobile device related to another user so that users don't have toswitch mobile phones for example. In one embodiment, a video obtained bya first user for a piece of equipment in motion that is not associatedwith the second user having the video camera mobile phone mayautomatically transfer the video to the first user for display withmotion capture data associated with the first user. Alternatively, thefirst user's mobile phone may be utilized as a motion sensor in place ofor in addition to motion capture element 111 and the second user'smobile phone may be utilized to capture video of the first user while inmotion. The first user may optionally gesture on the phone, tap/shake,etc., to indicate that the second mobile phone should start/stop motioncapture for example.

FIG. 1A shows an embodiment of computer 160. In computer 160 includesprocessor 161 that executes software modules, commonly also known asapplications, generally stored as computer program instructions withinmain memory 162. Display interface 163 drives display 120 of mobiledevice 101 as shown in FIG. 1. Optional orientation/position module 167may include a North/South or up/down orientation chip or both. In one ormore embodiments, the orientation/position module may include a locationdetermination element coupled with the microcontroller. This may includea GPS device for example. Alternatively, or in combination, the computermay triangulate the location in concert with another computer, or obtainthe location from any other triangulation type of receiver, or calculatethe location based on images captured via a camera coupled with thecomputer and known to be oriented in a particular direction, wherein thecomputer calculates an offset from the mobile device based on thedirection and size of objects within the image for example. Optionaltemperature sensor may coupled with processor 161 via a wired orwireless link and may be utilized for example as an indicator ofhypothermia or heat stroke alone or in combination with any motiondetected that may be indicative of shaking or unconsciousness forexample. Communication interface 164 may include wireless or wiredcommunications hardware protocol chips and/or an RFID reader or an RFIDreader may couple to computer 160 externally or in any other manner forexample. In one or more embodiments of the system communicationinterface may include telephonic and/or data communications hardware. Inone or more embodiments communication interface 164 may include a Wi-Fi™or other IEEE 802.11 device and/or BLUETOOTH® wireless communicationsinterface or ZigBee® wireless device or any other wireless technology.BLUETOOTH® class 1 devices have a range of approximately 100 meters,class 2 devices have a range of approximately 10 meters. BLUETOOTH® LowPower devices have a range of approximately 50 meters. Any wirelessnetwork protocol or type may be utilized in embodiments of the system solong as mobile device 101 and motion capture element 111 can communicatewith one another. Processor 161, main memory 162, display interface 163,communication interface 164 and orientation/position module 167 alongwith any optional sensors 168 such as temperature, humidity, wind,elevation, light, sound and physiological metrics (such as a heartbeatsensors), may communicate with one another over communicationinfrastructure 165, which is commonly known as a “bus”. Communicationspath 166 may include wired or wireless medium that allows forcommunication with other wired or wireless devices over network 170.Network 170 may communicate with Internet 171 and/or database 172.Database 172 may be utilized to save or retrieve images or videos ofusers, or motion analysis data, or users displayed with motion analysisdata in one form or another. The data uploaded to the Internet, i.e., aremote database or remote server or memory remote to the system may beviewed, analyzed or data mined by any computer that may obtain access tothe data. This allows for original equipment manufacturers to determinefor a given user what sporting equipment is working best and/or whatequipment to suggest. Data mining also enables the planning of golfcourses based on the data and/or metadata associated with users, such asage, or any other demographics that may be entered into the system.Remote storage of data also enables medical applications such asmorphological analysis, range of motion over time, and diabetesprevention and exercise monitoring and compliance applications. Datamining based applications also allow for games that use real motioncapture data from other users, one or more previous performances of thesame user, or historical players whether alive or dead after analyzingmotion pictures or videos of the historical players for example. Virtualreality and augmented virtual reality applications may also utilize themotion capture data or historical motion data. The system also enablesuploading of performance related events and/or motion capture data todatabase 172, which for example may be implemented as a socialnetworking site. This allows for the user to “tweet” high scores, orother metrics during or after play to notify everyone on the Internet ofthe new event. For example, one or more embodiments include at least onemotion capture element 111 configured to couple with a user or piece ofequipment or mobile device coupled with the user, wherein the at leastone motion capture element includes a memory, a sensor configured tocapture any combination of values associated with an orientation,position, velocity, acceleration of the at least one motion captureelement, a radio, and a microcontroller coupled with the memory, thesensor and the radio. The microcontroller is configured to collect datathat includes sensor values from the sensor, store the data in thememory, analyze the data and recognize an event within the data todetermine event data and transmit the event data associated with theevent via the radio. Embodiments of the system may also include anapplication configured to execute on a mobile device wherein the mobiledevice includes a computer, a wireless communication interfaceconfigured to communicate with the radio to obtain the event dataassociated with the event. The computer is coupled with wirelesscommunication interface wherein the computer executes the application or“app” to configure the computer to receive the event data from thewireless communication interface, analyze the event data to form motionanalysis data, store the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth the event data and the motion analysis data, and displayinformation comprising the event data, or the motion analysis data, orboth associated with the at least one user on a display.

FIG. 1B illustrates an architectural view of an embodiment of database172 utilized in embodiments of the system. As shown tables 180-186include information related to N number of users, M pieces of equipmentper user, P number of sensors per user or equipment, S number of sensordata per sensor, T number of patterns found in the other tables, Dnumber of data users and V videos. All tables shown in FIG. 1B areexemplary and may include more or less information as desired for theparticular implementation. Specifically, table 180 includes informationrelated to user 150 which may include data related to the user such asage, height, weight, sex, address or any other data. Table 181 includeinformation related to M number of pieces of equipment 110, which mayinclude clubs, racquets, bats, shirts, pants, shoes, gloves, helmets,etc., for example the manufacturer of the equipment, model of theequipment, and type of the equipment. For example, in a golf embodiment,the manufacturer may be the name of the manufacturer, the model may be aname or model number and the type may be the club number, i.e., 9 iron,the equipment ID may be identifier 191 in one or more embodiments of theinvention. Table 182 may include information related to P number ofsensors 111 on user 150 or equipment 110 or mobile computer 101. Thesensors associated with user 150 may include clothing, clubs, helmets,caps, headbands, mouthpieces, etc., the sensors associated withequipment 110 may for example be motion capture data sensors, while thesensors associated with mobile computer 101 may include sensors 167 forposition/orientation and sensors 130 for images/video for example. Table183 may include information related to S number of sensor data per userper equipment, wherein the table may include the time and location ofthe sensor data, or any other metadata related to the sensor data suchas temperature, weather, humidity, as obtained locally via thetemperature sensor shown in FIG. 1A, or via wireless communications orin any other manner for example, or the sensor data may include thisinformation or any combination thereof. The table may also contain amyriad of other fields, such as ball type, i.e., in a golf embodimentthe type of golf ball utilized may be saved and later data mined for thebest performing ball types, etc. This table may also include an eventtype as calculated locally, for example a potential concussion event.Table 184 may include information related to T number of patterns thathave been found in the data mining process for example. This may includefields that have been searched in the various tables with a particularquery and any resulting related results. Any data mining results tabletype may be utilized in one or more embodiments of the invention asdesired for the particular implementation. This may include searchresults of any kind, including EI measurements, which also may becalculated on computer 160 locally, or any other search value fromsimple queries to complex pattern searches. Table 185 may includeinformation related to D number of data mining users 151 and may includetheir access type, i.e., full database or pattern table, or limited to aparticular manufacturer, etc., the table may also include paymentrequirements and/or receipts for the type of usage that the data mininguser has paid for or agreed to pay for and any searches or suggestionsrelated to any queries or patterns found for example. Any other schema,including object oriented database relationships or memory based datastructures that allow for data mining of sensor data including motioncapture data is in keeping with the spirit of the invention. Althoughexemplary embodiments for particular activities are given, one skilledin the art will appreciate that any type of motion based activity may becaptured and analyzed by embodiments of the system using a motioncapture element and app that runs on a user's existing cell phone 101,102 or other computer 105 for example. Embodiments of the database mayinclude V number of videos 179 as held in table 186 for example thatinclude the user that generated the video, the video data, time andlocation of the video. The fields are optional and in one or moreembodiments, the videos may be stored on any of the mobile devices inthe system or any combination of the mobile devices and server/DB 172.In one or more embodiments, the videos may be broken into a subset ofvideos that are associated with the “time” field of the sensor datatable 183, wherein the time field may include an event start time andevent stop time. In this scenario, large videos may be trimmed into oneor more smaller event videos that correspond to generally smaller timewindows associated with events of the event type held in table 183 togreatly reduce video storage requirements of the system.

There are a myriad of applications that benefit and which are enabled byembodiments of the system that provide for viewing and analyzing motioncapture data on the mobile computer or server/database, for example fordata mining database 172 by users 151. For example, users 151 mayinclude compliance monitors, including for example parents, children orelderly, managers, doctors, insurance companies, police, military, orany other entity such as equipment manufacturers that may data mine forproduct improvement. For example in a tennis embodiment by searching fortop service speeds for users of a particular size or age, or in a golfembodiment by searching for distances, i.e., differences in sequentiallocations in table 183 based on swing speed in the sensor data field intable 183 to determine which manufacturers have the best clubs, or bestclubs per age or height or weight per user, or a myriad of otherpatterns. Other embodiments related to compliance enable messages frommobile computer 101 or from server/database to be generated ifthresholds for G-forces, (high or zero or any other levels), to be sentto compliance monitors, managers, doctors, insurance companies, etc., aspreviously described. Users 151 may include marketing personnel thatdetermine which pieces of equipment certain users own and which relateditems that other similar users may own, in order to target sales atparticular users. Users 151 may include medical personnel that maydetermine how much movement a sensor for example coupled with a shoe,i.e., a type of equipment, of a diabetic child has moved and how muchthis movement relates to the average non-diabetic child, whereinsuggestions as per table 185 may include giving incentives to thediabetic child to exercise more, etc., to bring the child in line withhealthy children. Sports physicians, physiologists or physicaltherapists may utilize the data per user, or search over a large numberof users and compare a particular movement of a user or range of motionfor example to other users to determine what areas a given user canimprove on through stretching or exercise and which range of motionareas change over time per user or per population and for example whattype of equipment a user may utilize to account for changes over time,even before those changes take place. Data mining motion capture dataand image data related to motion provides unique advantages to users151. Data mining may be performed on flex parameters measured by thesensors to determine if sporting equipment, shoes, human body parts orany other item changes in flexibility over time or between equipmentmanufacturers or any combination thereof.

To ensure that analysis of user 150 during a motion capture includesimages that are relatively associated with the horizon, i.e., nottilted, the system may include an orientation module that executes oncomputer 160 within mobile device 101 for example. The computer isconfigured to prompt a user to align the camera along a horizontal planebased on orientation data obtained from orientation hardware withinmobile device 101. Orientation hardware is common on mobile devices asone skilled in the art will appreciate. This allows the image socaptured to remain relatively level with respect to the horizontalplane. The orientation module may also prompt the user to move thecamera toward or away from the user, or zoom in or out to the user toplace the user within a graphical “fit box”, to somewhat normalize thesize of the user to be captured. Images may also be utilized by users toprove that they have complied with doctors orders for example to meetcertain motion requirements.

Embodiments of the system are further configured to recognize the atleast one motion capture element associated with user 150 or piece ofequipment 110 and associate at least one motion capture element 111 withassigned locations on user 150 or piece of equipment 110. For example,the user can shake a particular motion capture element when prompted bythe computer within mobile device 101 to acknowledge which motioncapture element the computer is requesting an identity for.Alternatively, motion sensor data may be analyzed for position and/orspeed and/or acceleration when performing a known activity andautomatically classified as to the location of mounting of the motioncapture element automatically, or by prompting the user to acknowledgethe assumed positions. Sensors may be associated with a particularplayer by team name and jersey number for example and stored in thememory of the motion capture sensor for transmission of events. Anycomputer shown in FIG. 1 may be utilized to program the identifierassociated with the particular motion capture sensor in keeping with thespirit of the invention.

One or more embodiments of the computer in mobile device 101 isconfigured to obtain at least one image of user 150 and display athree-dimensional overlay onto the at least one image of user 150wherein the three-dimensional overlay is associated with the motionanalysis data. Various displays may be displayed on display 120. Thedisplay of motion analysis data may include a rating associated with themotion analysis data, and/or a display of a calculated ball flight pathassociated with the motion analysis data and/or a display of a time lineshowing points in time along a time axis where peak values associatedwith the motion analysis data occur and/or a suggest training regimen toaid the user in improving mechanics of the user. These filtered oranalyzed data sensor results may be stored in database 172, for examplein table 183, or the raw data may be analyzed on the database (or serverassociated with the database or in any other computer or combinationthereof in the system shown in FIG. 1 for example), and then displayedon mobile computer 101 or on website 173, or via a television broadcastfrom camera 104 for example. Data mining results may be combined in anymanner with the unique displays of the system and shown in any desiredmanner as well.

Embodiments of the system may also present an interface to enable user150 to purchase piece of equipment 110 over the wireless interface ofmobile device 101, for example via the Internet, or via computer 105which may be implemented as a server of a vendor. In addition, forcustom fitting equipment, such as putter shaft lengths, or any othercustom sizing of any type of equipment, embodiments of the system maypresent an interface to enable user 150 to order a customer fitted pieceof equipment over the wireless interface of mobile device 101.Embodiments of the invention also enable mobile device 101 to suggestbetter performing equipment to user 150 or to allow user 150 to searchfor better performing equipment as determined by data mining of database172 for distances of golf shots per club for users with swing velocitieswithin a predefined range of user 150. This allows for real lifeperformance data to be mined and utilized for example by users 151, suchas OEMs to suggest equipment to user 150, and be charged for doing so,for example by paying for access to data mining results as displayed inany computer shown in FIG. 1 or via website 173 for example. In one ormore embodiments of the invention database 172 keeps track of OEM datamining and is configured to bill users 151 for the amount of access eachof users 151 has purchased and/or used for example over a giving billingperiod. See FIG. 1B for example.

Embodiments of the system are configured to analyze the data obtainedfrom at least one motion capture element and determine how centered acollision between a ball and the piece of equipment is based onoscillations of the at least one motion capture element coupled with thepiece of equipment and display an impact location based on the motionanalysis data. This performance data may also be stored in database 172and used by OEMs or coaches for example to suggest clubs with higherprobability of a centered hit as data mined over a large number ofcollisions for example.

While FIG. 1A depicts a physical device, the scope of the systems andmethods set forth herein may also encompass a virtual device, virtualmachine or simulator embodied in one or more computer programs executingon a computer or computer system and acting or providing a computersystem environment compatible with the methods and processesimplementing the disclosed ideas. Where a virtual machine, process,device or otherwise performs substantially similarly to that of aphysical computer system of the system, such a virtual platform willalso fall within the scope of a system of the disclosure,notwithstanding the description herein of a physical system such as thatin FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a flow chart for an embodiment of the processingperformed and enabled by embodiments of the computers utilized in thesystem. In one or more embodiments of the system, a plurality of motioncapture elements are optionally calibrated at 301. In some embodimentsthis means calibrating multiple sensors on a user or piece of equipmentto ensure that the sensors are aligned and/or set up with the same speedor acceleration values for a given input motion. In other embodiments ofthe invention, this means placing multiple motion capture sensors on acalibration object that moves and calibrates the orientation, position,speed, acceleration, or any combination thereof at the same time. Thisstep general includes providing motion capture elements and optionalmount (or alternatively allowing a mobile device with motion capturesensing capabilities to be utilized), and an app for example that allowsa user with an existing mobile phone or computer to utilize embodimentsof the system to obtain motion capture data, and potentially analyzeand/or send messages based thereon. In one or more embodiments, usersmay simply purchase a motion capture element and an app and beginimmediately using the system. The system captures motion data withmotion capture element(s) at 302, recognized any events within themotion capture data, i.e., a linear and/or rotational acceleration overa threshold indicative of a concussion for example at 303, and sends themotion capture data to a mobile computer 101, 102 or 105 for example,which may include an IPOD®, ITOUCH®, IPAD®, IPHONE®, ANDROID® Phone orany other type of computer that a user may utilize to locally collectdata at 304. In one or more embodiments the sensor may transmit an eventto any other motion capture sensor to start an event data storageprocess on the other sensors for example. In other embodiments, thesensor may transmit the event to other mobile devices to signify thatvideos for the event should be saved with unneeded portions of the videodiscarded for example, to enable the video to be trimmed either near thepoint in time of the event or at a later time. In one or moreembodiments, the system minimizes the complexity of the sensor andoffloads processing to extremely capable computing elements found inexisting mobile phones and other electronic devices for example. Thetransmitting of data from the motion capture elements to the user'scomputer may happen when possible, periodically, on an event basis, whenpolled, or in any other manner as will be described in various sectionsherein. This saves great amount of power compared to known systems thatcontinuously send raw data in two ways, first data may be sent in eventpackets, within a time window around a particular motion event whichgreatly reduces the data to a meaningful small subset of total raw data,and secondly the data may be sent less than continuously, or at definedtimes, or when asked for data so as to limit the total number oftransmissions. In one or more embodiments, the event may displayedlocally, for example with an LED flashing on the motion capture sensor111, for example yellow slow flashing for potential concussion or redfast flashing for probably concussion at 305. Alternatively, or incombination, the alert or event may be transmitted and displayed on anyother computer or mobile device shown in FIG. 1 for example.

The main intelligence in the system is generally in the mobile computeror server where more processing power may be utilized and so as to takeadvantage of the communications capabilities that are ubiquitous inexisting mobile computers for example. In one or more embodiments of thesystem, the mobile computer may optionally obtain an identifier from theuser or equipment at 306, or this identifier may be transmitted as partof step 305, such as a passive RFID or active RFID or other identifiersuch as a team/jersey number or other player ID, which may be utilizedby the mobile computer to determine what user has just been potentiallyinjured, or what weight as user is lifting, or what shoes a user isrunning with, or what weapon a user is using, or what type of activity auser is using based on the identifier of the equipment. The mobilecomputer may analyze the motion capture data locally at 307 and display,i.e., show or send information such as a message for example when athreshold is observed in the data, for example when too many G-forceshave been registered by a player, soldier or race car driver, or whennot enough motion is occurring (either at the time or based on thepatterns of data in the database as discussed below based on the user'stypical motion patterns or other user's motion patterns for example.) Inother embodiments, once a user has performed a certain amount of motion,a message may be sent to safety or compliance monitor(s) at 307 to storeor otherwise display the data, including for example referees, parents,children or elderly, managers, doctors, insurance companies, police,military, or any other entity such as equipment manufacturers. Themessage may be an SMS message, or email, or tweet or any other type ofelectronic communication. If the particular embodiment is configured forremote analysis or only remote analysis, then the motion capture datamay be sent to the server/database at 308. If the implementation doesnot utilize a remote database, the analysis on the mobile computer islocal. If the implementation includes a remote database, then theanalysis may be performed on the mobile computer or server/database orboth at 309. Once the database obtains the motion capture data, then thedata may be analyzed and a message may be sent from the server/databaseto compliance personnel or business entities as desired to display theevent alone or in combination or with respect to previous event dataassociated with the user or other users at 310.

Embodiments of the invention make use of the data from the mobilecomputer and/or server for gaming, morphological comparing, compliance,tracking calories burned, work performed, monitoring of children orelderly based on motion or previous motion patterns that vary during theday and night, safety monitoring for players, troops when G-forcesexceed a threshold or motion stops, local use of running, jumpingthrowing motion capture data for example on a cell phone includingvirtual reality applications that make use of the user's current and/orprevious data or data from other users, or play music or select a playlist based on the type of motion a user is performing or data mining.For example if motion is similar to a known player in the database, thenthat user's playlist may be sent to the user's mobile computer 101. Theprocessing may be performed locally so if the motion is fast, fast musicis played and if the motion is slow, then slow music may be played. Anyother algorithm for playing music based on the motion of the user is inkeeping with the spirit of the invention. Any use of motion capture dataobtained from a motion capture element and app on an existing user'smobile computer is in keeping with the spirit of the invention,including using the motion data in virtual reality environments to showrelative motion of an avatar of another player using actual motion datafrom the user in a previous performance or from another user including ahistorical player for example. Display of information is generallyperformed via three scenarios, wherein display information is based onthe user's motion analysis data or related to the user's piece ofequipment and previous data, wherein previous data may be from the sameuser/equipment or one or more other users/equipment. Under thisscenario, a comparison of the current motion analysis data with previousdata associated with this user/equipment allows for patterns to beanalyzed with an extremely cost effective system having a motion capturesensor and app. Under another scenario, the display of information is afunction of the current user's performance, so that the previous dataselected from the user or another user/equipment is based on the currentuser's performance. This enables highly realistic game play, for examplea virtual tennis game against a historical player wherein the swings ofa user are effectively responded to by the capture motion from ahistorical player. This type of realistic game play with actual databoth current and previously stored data, for example a user playingagainst an average pattern of a top 10 player in tennis, i.e., the speedof serves, the speed and angle of return shots, for a given input shotof a user makes for game play that is as realistic as is possible.Television images may be for example analyzed to determine swing speedsand types of shots taken by historical players that may no longer bealive to test one's skills against a master, as if the master was stillalive and currently playing the user. Compliance and monitoring by theuser or a different user may be performed in a third scenario withoutcomparison to the user's previous or other user's previous data whereinthe different user does not have access to or own for example the mobilecomputer. In other words, the mobile phone is associated with the userbeing monitored and the different user is obtaining information relatedto the current performance of a user for example wearing a motioncapture element, such as a baby, or a diabetes patient.

FIG. 1D illustrates a data flow diagram for an embodiment of the system.As shown motion capture data is sent from a variety of motion captureelements 111 on many different types of equipment 110 or associated withuser 150, for example on clothing, a helmet, headband, cap, mouthpieceor anywhere else coupled with the user. The equipment or user mayoptionally have an identifier 191 that enables the system to associate avalue with the motion, i.e., the weight being lifted, the type ofracquet being used, the type of electronic device being used, i.e., agame controller or other object such as baby pajamas associated withsecond user 152, e.g., a baby. In one or more embodiments, elements 191in the figure may be replaced or augmented with motion capture elements111 as one skilled in the art will appreciate. In one or moreembodiments of the system, mobile computer 101 receives the motioncapture data, for example in event form and for example on an eventbasis or when requested by mobile computer 101, e.g., after motioncapture elements 111 declares that there is data and turns on a receiverfor a fix amount of time to field requests so as to not waste power, andif no requests are received, then turn the receiver off for a period oftime. Once the data is in mobile computer 101, then the data isanalyzed, for example to take raw or event based motion capture data andfor example determine items such as average speed, etc., that are morehumanly understandable in a concise manner. The data may be stored,shown to the right of mobile computer 101 and then the data may bedisplayed to user 150, or 151, for example in the form of a monitor orcompliance text or email or on a display associated with mobile computer101 or computer 105. This enables users not associated with the motioncapture element and optionally not even the mobile computer potentiallyto obtain monitor messages, for example saying that the baby isbreathing slowly, or for example to watch a virtual reality match orperformance, which may include a user supplying motion capture datacurrently, a user having previously stored data or a historical player,such as a famous golfer, etc., after analysis of motion in video frompast tournament performance(s). In gaming scenarios, where the dataobtained currently, for example from user 150 or equipment 110, thedisplay of data, for example on virtual reality glasses may make use ofthe previous data from that user/equipment or another user/equipment torespond to the user's current motion data, i.e., as a function of theuser's input. The previous data may be stored anywhere in the system,e.g., in the mobile computer 101, computer 105 or on the server ordatabase 172 (see FIG. 1). The previous data may be utilized for exampleto indicate to user 151 that user 150 has undergone a certain number ofpotential concussion events, and therefore must heal for a particularamount of time before playing again. Insurance companies may demand suchcompliance to lower medical expenses for example. Video may be storedand retrieved from mobile device 101, computer 105 or as shown in FIG.1, on server or in database coupled with server 172 to form event videosthat include the event data and the video of the event shownsimultaneously for example on a display, e.g., overlaid or shown inseparate portions of the display of mobile computer 101 or computer 105generally.

FIG. 2A illustrates a helmet 110 a based mount that surrounds the head150 a of a user wherein the helmet based mount holds a motion capturesensor 111, for example as shown on the rear portion of the helmet. FIG.2B illustrates a neck insert based mount, shown at the bottom rearportion of the helmet, that enables retrofitting existing helmets with amotion capture sensor 111. In embodiments that include at least onemotion capture sensor that is configured to be coupled with or otherwiseworn near the user's head 150 a, the microcontroller may be furtherconfigured to calculate of a location of impact on the user's head. Thecalculation of the location of impact on the user's head is based on thephysical geometry of the user's head and/or helmet. For example, ifmotion capture element 111 indicates a rearward acceleration with norotation (to the right in the figure as shown), then the location ofimpact may be calculated by tracing the vector of acceleration back tothe direction of the outside perimeter of the helmet or user's head.This non-rotational calculation effectively indicates that the line offorce passes near or through the center of gravity of the user'shead/helmet, otherwise rotational forces are observed by motion captureelement 111. If a sideward vector is observed at the motion captureelement 111, then the impact point is calculated to be at the side ofthe helmet/head and through the center of gravity. Hence, any otherimpact that does not impart a rotational acceleration to the motioncapture sensor over at least a time period near the peak of theacceleration for example, or during any other time period, may beassumed to be imparted in a direction to the helmet/head that passesthrough the center of gravity. Hence, the calculation of the point ofimpact is calculated as the intersection of the outer perimeter of thehelmet/head that a vector of force is detected and traversed backwardsto the point of impact by calculating the distance and angle back fromthe center of gravity. For example, if the acceleration vector is at 45degrees with no rotation, then the point of impact is 45 degrees backfrom the center of gravity of the helmet/head, hence calculating thesine of 45, approximately 0.7 multiplied by the radius of the helmet or5 inches, results in an impact about 3.5 inches from the front of thehelmet. Alternatively, the location of impact may be kept in angularformat to indicate that the impact was at 45 degrees from the front ofthe helmet/head. Conversely, if rotational acceleration is observedwithout linear acceleration, then the helmet/head is rotating about thesensor. In this scenario, the force required to rotate the brain passesin front of the center of gravity and is generally orthogonal to a linedefined as passing through the center of gravity and the sensor, e.g., aside impact, otherwise translation linear acceleration would beobserved. In this case, the location of impact then is on the side ofthe helmet/head opposite the direction of the acceleration. Hence, thesetwo calculations of location of impact as examples of simplified methodsof calculations that may be utilized although any other vector basedalgorithm that takes into account the mass of the head/helmet and thesize of the head/helmet may be utilized. One such algorithm may utilizeany mathematical equations such as F=m*a, i.e., Force equal mass timesacceleration, and Torque=r×F, where r is the position vector at theouter portion of the head/helmet, × is the cross product and F is theForce vector, to calculate the force vector and translate back to theouter perimeter of the helmet/head to calculate the Force vectorimparted at that location if desired. Although described with respect toa helmet, other embodiments of the at least one motion capture sensormay be configured to be coupled with a hat or cap, within a protectivemouthpiece, using any type of mount, enclosure or coupling mechanism.Similar calculations may be utilized for the hat/cap/mouthpiece todetermine a location/direction of impact, linear or rotational forcesfrom the accelerations or any other quantities that may be indicative ofconcussion related events for example. Embodiments may include atemperature sensor coupled with the at least one motion capture sensoror with the microcontroller for example as shown in FIG. 1A. Thetemperature sensor may be utilized alone or in combination with themotion capture element, for example to determine if the body or head isshivering, i.e., indicative of hypothermia, or if no movement isdetected and the temperature for example measure wirelessly or via awire based temperature sensor indicates that the body or brain is abovea threshold indicative of heat stroke.

Embodiments of the invention may also utilize an isolator configured tosurround the at least one motion capture element to approximate physicalacceleration dampening of cerebrospinal fluid around the user's brain tominimize translation of linear acceleration and rotational accelerationof the event data to obtain an observed linear acceleration and anobserved rotational acceleration of the user's brain. Thus embodimentsdo not have to translate forces or acceleration values or any othervalues from the helmet based acceleration to the observed brainacceleration values and thus embodiments of the invention utilize lesspower and storage to provide event specific data, which in turnminimizes the amount of data transfer which yields lower transmissionpower utilization. Different isolators may be utilized on afootball/hockey/lacrosse player's helmet based on the type of paddinginherent in the helmet. Other embodiments utilized in sports wherehelmets are not worn, or occasionally worn may also utilize at least onemotion capture sensor on a cap or hat, for example on a baseballplayer's hat, along with at least one sensor mounted on a battinghelmet. Headband mounts may also be utilized in sports where a cap isnot utilized, such as soccer to also determine concussions. In one ormore embodiments, the isolator utilized on a helmet may remain in theenclosure attached to the helmet and the sensor may be removed andplaced on another piece of equipment that does not make use of anisolator that matches the dampening of a user's brain fluids.Embodiments may automatically detect a type of motion and determine thetype of equipment that the motion capture sensor is currently attachedto based on characteristic motion patterns associated with certain typesof equipment, i.e., surfboard versus baseball bat. In one or moreembodiments an algorithm that may be utilized to calculate the physicalcharacteristics of an isolator may include mounting a motion capturesensor on a helmet and mounting a motion capture sensor in a headform ina crash test dummy head wherein the motion capture sensor in theheadform is enclosed in an isolator. By applying linear and rotationalaccelerations to the helmet and observing the difference in valuesobtained by the helmet sensor and observed by the sensor in the headformfor example with respect to a sensor placed in a cadaver head within ahelmet, the isolator material of the best matching dampening value maybe obtained that most closely matches the dampening effect of a humanbrain.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close-up of the mount of FIGS. 2A-B showing theisolator between the motion capture sensor and external portion of thehelmet. Embodiments of the invention may be configured toobtain/calculate a linear acceleration value or a rotationalacceleration value or both. This enables rotational events to bemonitored for concussions as well as linear accelerations. As shown, anexternal acceleration G1 may impart a lower acceleration more associatedwith the acceleration observed by the human brain, namely G2 on sensor111 by utilizing isolator 111 c within sensor mount 111 b. This enablesrotational events to be monitored for concussions as well as linearaccelerations. Other events may make use of the linear and/or rotationalacceleration and/or velocity, for example as compared against patternsor templates to not only switch sensor personalities during an event toalter the capture characteristics dynamically, but also to characterizethe type of equipment currently being utilized with the current motioncapture sensor. This enables a single motion capture element purchase bya user to instrument multiple pieces of equipment or clothing byenabling the sensor to automatically determine what type of equipment orpiece of clothing the sensor is coupled to based on the motion capturedby the sensor when compared against characteristic patterns or templatesof motion.

FIG. 4A illustrates a top cross sectional view of the motion captureelement 111 mounted on helmet 110 a having padding 110 a 1 thatsurrounds cranium 401, and brain 402 of a user. FIG. 4B illustrates arotational concussion event for the various elements shown in FIG. 4. Asshown, different acceleration values may be imparted on the human brain402 and cranium 401 having center of gravity 403 and surrounded bypadding 110 a 1 in helmet 110 a. As shown, to move within a unit timeperiod, the front portion of the brain must accelerate at a higher rateG2a, than the rear portion of the brain at G2c or at G2b at the centerof gravity. Hence, for a given rotational acceleration value differentareas of the brain may be affected differently. One or more embodimentsof the invention may thus transmit information not only related tolinear acceleration, but also with rotational acceleration.

FIG. 5 illustrates the input force to the helmet, G1, e.g., as shown at500 g, versus the observed force within the brain G2, and as observed bythe sensor when mounted within the isolator and as confirmed with knownheadform acceleration measurement systems. The upper right graph showsthat two known headform systems confirm acceleration values observed byan isolator based motion capture element 111 shown in FIG. 4A withrespect to headform mounted accelerometers.

FIG. 6 illustrates the rotational acceleration values of the 3 axesalong with the total rotational vector amount along with video of theconcussion event as obtained from a camera and displayed with the motionevent data. In one or more embodiments, the acceleration values from agiven sensor may be displayed for rotational (as shown) or linearvalues, for example by double tapping a mobile device screen, or in anyother manner. Embodiments of the invention may transmit the event dataassociated with the event using a connectionless broadcast message. Inone or more embodiments, depending on the wireless communicationemployed, broadcast messages may include payloads with a limited amountof data that may be utilized to avoid handshaking and overhead of aconnection based protocol. In other embodiments connectionless orconnection based protocols may be utilized in any combination. In thismanner, a referee may obtain nearly instantaneous readouts of potentialconcussion related events on a mobile device, which allows the refereeto obtain medical assistance in rapid fashion.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may access previously storedevent data or motion analysis data associated with the user or piece ofequipment, for example to determine the number of concussions or fallsor other swings, or any other motion event. Embodiments may also presentevent data associated with the at least one user on a display based onthe event data or motion analysis data associated with the user or pieceof equipment and the previously stored event data or motion analysisdata associated with the user or piece of equipment or with at least oneother user or other piece of equipment. This enables comparison ofmotion events, in number or quantitative value, e.g., the maximumrotational acceleration observed by the user or other users in aparticular game or historically. In addition, patterns or templates thatdefine characteristic motion of particular pieces of equipment fortypical events may be dynamically updated, for example on a centralserver or locally, and dynamically updated in motion capture sensors viathe wireless interface in one or more embodiments. This enables sensorsto improve over time. Hence, the display shown in FIG. 6 may alsoindicate the number of concussions previously stored for a givenboxer/player and enable the referee/doctor to make a decision as towhether or not the player may keep playing or not.

Embodiments of the invention may transmit the information to a displayon a visual display coupled with the computer or a remote computer, forexample over broadcast television or the Internet for example. Hence,the display in FIG. 6 may be also shown to a viewing audience, forexample in real-time to indicate the amount of force imparted upon theboxer/player/rider, etc.

FIG. 7 illustrates a timeline display 2601 of a user along with peak andminimum angular speeds along the timeline shown as events along the timeline. In addition, a graph showing the lead and lag of the golf club2602 along with the droop and drift of the golf club is shown in thebottom display wherein these values determine how much the golf clubshaft is bending in two axes as plotted against time. An embodiment ofthe display is shown in FIG. 8 with simplified time line and motionrelated event (maximum speed of the swing) annotated on the display.

FIG. 8 illustrates a sub-event scrub timeline that enables inputs nearthe start/stop points 802 a-d in time, i.e., sub-event time locationsshown in FIG. 7 and associated with sub-events to be scrolled to, playedto or from, to easily enable viewing of sub-events. For example a golfswing may include sub-events such as an address, swing back, swingforward, strike, follow through. The system may display time locationsfor the sub-events 802 a-d and accept user input near the location toassert that the video should start or stop at that point in time, orscroll to or back to that point in time for ease of viewing sub-eventsfor example. User input element 801 may be utilized to drag the time toa nearby sub-event for example to position the video at a desired pointin time. Alternatively, or in combination a user input such as assertinga finger press near another sub-event point in time while the video isplaying, may indicate that the video should stop at the next sub-eventpoint in time. The user interface may also be utilized to control-dragthe points to more precisely synchronize the video to the frame in whicha particular sub-event or event occurs. For example, the user may holdthe control key and drag a point 802 b to the left or right to match theframe of the video to the actual point in time where the velocity of theclubhead is zero for example to more closely synchronize the video tothe actual motion analysis data shown, here Swing Speed in miles perhour. Any other user gesture may be utilized in keeping with the spiritof the invention to synchronize a user frame to the motion analysisdata, such as voice control, arrow keys, etc.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative locations along the timeline wheresub-events 802 a and 802 b start and stop and the gravity associatedwith the start and stop times, which enable user inputs near thosepoints to gravitate to the start and stop times. For example, whendragging the user interface element 801 left and right along the timeline, the user interface element may appear to move toward the potentialwell 802 a and 802 b, so that the user interface element is easier tomove to the start/stop point of a sub-event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer is further configured torequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event. This may include a broadcastmessage requesting video from a particular proximal camera or a camerathat is pointing in the direction of the event. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to broadcast a requestfor camera locations proximal to the event or oriented to view theevent, and optionally display the available cameras, or videos therefromfor the time duration around the event of interest. In one or moreembodiments, the computer is further configured to display a list of oneor more times at which the event has occurred, which enables the userobtain the desired event video via the computer, and/or to independentlyrequest the video from a third party with the desired event times. Thecomputer may obtain videos from the server 172 as well and locally trimthe video to the desired events. This may be utilized to obtain thirdparty videos or videos from systems that do not directly interface withthe computer, but which may be in communication with the server 172.

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment that utilizes a mobile device 102 b asthe motion capture element 111 a and another mobile device 102 a as thecomputer that receives the motion event data and video of the first userevent. The view from mobile device 102 a is shown in the left upperportion of the figure. In one or more embodiments, the at least onemotion capture sensor is coupled with the mobile device and for exampleuses an internal motion sensor 111 a within or coupled with the mobiledevice. This enables motion capture and event recognition with minimaland ubiquitous hardware, e.g., using a mobile device with a built-inaccelerometer. In one or more embodiments, a first mobile device 102 bmay be coupled with a user recording motion data, here shownskateboarding, while a second mobile device 102 a is utilized to recorda video of the motion. In one or more embodiments, the user undergoingmotion may gesture, e.g., tap N times on the mobile device to indicatethat the second user's mobile device should start recording video orstop recording video. Any other gesture may be utilized to communicateevent related or motion related indications between mobile devices.

Thus embodiments of the invention may recognize any type of motionevent, including events related to motion that is indicative ofstanding, walking, falling, a heat stroke, seizure, violent shaking, aconcussion, a collision, abnormal gait, abnormal or non-existentbreathing or any combination thereof or any other type of event having aduration of time during with motion occurs. Events may also be of anygranularity, for example include sub-events that have known signatures,or otherwise match a template or pattern of any type, includingamplitude and/or time thresholds in particular sets of linear orrotational axes. For example, events indicating a skateboard push-off orseries of pushes may be grouped into a sub-event such as “prep formaneuver”, while rotational axes in X for example may indicate“skateboard flip/roll”. In one or more embodiments, the events may begrouped and stored/sent.

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of the memory utilized to store data.Memory 4601 may for example be integral to the microcontroller in motioncapture element 111 or may couple with the microcontroller, as forexample a separate memory chip. Memory 4601 as shown may be configuredto include one or more memory buffer 4610, 4611 and 4620, 4621respectively. One embodiment of the memory buffer that may be utilizedis a ring buffer. The ring buffer may be implemented to be overwrittenmultiple times until an event occurs. The length of the ring buffer maybe from 0 to N memory units. There may for example be M ring buffers,for M strike events for example. The number M may be any number greaterthan zero. In one or more embodiments, the number M may be equal to orgreater than the number of expected events, e.g., number of hits, orshots for a round of golf, or any other number for example that allowsall motion capture data to be stored on the motion capture element untildownloaded to a mobile computer or the Internet after one or moreevents. In one embodiment, a pointer, for example called HEAD keepstrack of the head of the buffer. As data is recorded in the buffer, theHEAD is moved forward by the appropriate amount pointing to the nextfree memory unit. When the buffer becomes full, the pointer wraps aroundto the beginning of the buffer and overwrites previous values as itencounters them. Although the data is being overwritten, at any instancein time (t), there is recorded sensor data from time (t) back dependingon the size of the buffer and the rate of recording. As the sensorrecords data in the buffer, an “Event” in one or more embodiments stopsnew data from overwriting the buffer. Upon the detection of an Event,the sensor can continue to record data in a second buffer 4611 to recordpost Event data, for example for a specific amount of time at a specificcapture rate to complete the recording of a prospective shot. Memorybuffer 4610 now contains a record of data for a desired amount of timefrom the Event backwards, depending on the size of the buffer andcapture rate along with post Event data in the post event buffer 4611.Video may also be stored in a similar manner and later trimmed, see FIG.19 for example.

For example, in a golf swing, the event can be the impact of theclubhead with the ball. Alternatively, the event can be the impact ofthe clubhead with the ground, which may give rise to a false event. Inother embodiments, the event may be an acceleration of a user's headwhich may be indicative of a concussion event, or a shot fired from aweapon, or a ball striking a baseball bat or when a user moves a weightto the highest point and descends for another repetition. The Pre-Eventbuffer stores the sensor data up to the event of impact, the Post-Eventbuffer stores the sensor data after the impact event. One or moreembodiments of the microcontroller are configured to analyze the eventand determine if the event is a repetition, firing or event such as astrike or a false strike. If the event is considered a valid eventaccording to a pattern or signature or template (see FIGS. 13 and 15),and not a false event, then another memory buffer 4620 is used formotion capture data up until the occurrence of a second event. Afterthat event occurs, the post event buffer 4621 is filled with captureddata.

Specifically, the motion capture element 111 may be implemented as oneor more MEMs sensors. The sensors may be commanded to collect data atspecific time intervals. At each interval, data is read from the variousMEMs devices, and stored in the ring buffer. A set of values read fromthe MEMs sensors is considered a FRAME of data. A FRAME of data can be0, 1, or multiple memory units depending on the type of data that isbeing collected and stored in the buffer. A FRAME of data is alsoassociated with a time interval. Therefore frames are also associatedwith a time element based on the capture rate from the sensors. Forexample, if each Frame is filled at 2 ms intervals, then 1000 FRAMESwould contain 2000 ms of data (2 seconds). In general, a FRAME does nothave to be associated with time.

Data can be constantly stored in the ring buffer and written out tonon-volatile memory or sent over a wireless or wired link over aradio/antenna to a remote memory or device for example at specifiedevents, times, or when communication is available over a radio/antennato a mobile device or any other computer or memory, or when commandedfor example by a mobile device, i.e., “polled”, or at any other desiredevent.

FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the functionalityspecifically programmed into the microcontroller to determine whether anevent that is to be transmitted for the particular application, forexample a prospective event or for example an event has occurred. Themotion, acceleration or shockwave that occurs from an impact to thesporting equipment is transmitted to the sensor in the motion captureelement, which records the motion capture data as is described in FIG.11 above. The microcontroller is configured to then analyze the eventand determine whether the event is a prospective event or not.

One type of event that occurs is acceleration or ahead/helmet/cap/mouthpiece based sensor over a specified linear orrotational value, or the impact of the clubface when it impacts a golfball. In other sports that utilize a ball and a striking implement, thesame analysis is applied, but tailored to the specific sport andsporting equipment. In tennis a prospective strike can be the racquethitting the ball, for example as opposed to spinning the racquet beforereceiving a serve. In other applications, such as running shoes, theimpact detection algorithm can detect the shoe hitting the ground whensomeone is running. In exercise it can be a particular motion beingachieved, this allows for example the counting of repetitions whilelifting weights or riding a stationary bike.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, processing starts at 4701.The microcontroller compares the motion capture data in memory 4610 withlinear velocity over a certain threshold at 4702, within a particularimpact time frame and searches for a discontinuity threshold where thereis a sudden change in velocity or acceleration above a certain thresholdat 4703. If no discontinuity in velocity or for example accelerationoccurs in the defined time window, then processing continues at 4702. Ifa discontinuity does occur, then the prospective impact is saved inmemory and post impact data is saved for a given time P at 4704. Forexample, if the impact threshold is set to 12 G, discontinuity thresholdis set to 6 G, and the impact time frames is 10 frames, thenmicrocontroller 3802 signals impact, after detection of a 12 Gacceleration in at least one axis or all axes within 10 frames followedby a discontinuity of 6 G. In a typical event, the accelerations buildwith characteristic accelerations curves. Impact is signaled as a quickchange in acceleration/velocity. These changes are generally distinctfrom the smooth curves created by an incrementally increasing ordecreasing curves of a particular non-event. For concussion basedevents, linear or rotational acceleration in one or more axes is over athreshold. For golf related events, if the acceleration curves are thatof a golf swing, then particular axes have particular accelerations thatfit within a signature, template or other pattern and a ball strikeresults in a large acceleration strike indicative of a hit. If the datamatches a given template, then it is saved, if not, it processingcontinues back at 4702. If data is to be saved externally as determinedat 4705, i.e., there is a communication link to a mobile device and themobile device is polling or has requested impact data when it occurs forexample, then the event is transmitted to an external memory, or themobile device or saved externally in any other location at 4706 andprocessing continues again at 4702 where the microcontroller analyzescollected motion capture data for subsequent events. If data is not tobe saved externally, then processing continues at 4702 with the impactdata saved locally in memory 4601. If sent externally, the other motioncapture devices may also save their motion data for the event detectedby another sensor. This enables sensors with finer resolution or moremotion for example to alert other sensors associated with the user orpiece of equipment to save the event even if the motion capture datadoes not reach a particular threshold or pattern, for example see FIG.15. This type of processing provides more robust event detection asmultiple sensors may be utilized to detect a particular type of eventand notify other sensors that may not match the event pattern for onereason or another. In addition, cameras may be notified and trim orotherwise discard unneeded video and save event related video, which maylower memory utilization not only of events but also for video. In oneor more embodiments of the invention, noise may be filtered from themotion capture data before sending, and the sample rate may be variedbased on the data values obtained to maximize accuracy. For example,some sensors output data that is not accurate under high sampling ratesand high G-forces. Hence, by lowering the sampling rate at highG-forces, accuracy is maintained. In one or more embodiments of theinvention, the microcontroller associated with motion capture element111 may sense high G forces and automatically switch the sampling rate.In one or more embodiments, instead of using accelerometers with 6 G/12G/24 G ranges or 2 G/4 G/8 G/16 G ranges, accelerometers with 2 ranges,for example 2G and 24 G may be utilized to simplify the logic ofswitching between ranges.

One or more embodiments of the invention may transmit the event to amobile device and/or continue to save the events in memory, for examplefor a round of golf or until a mobile device communication link isachieved.

For example, with the sensor mounted in a particular mount, a typicalevent signature is shown in FIG. 13, also see FIG. 15 for comparison oftwo characteristic motion types as shown via patterns or templatesassociated with different pieces of equipment or clothing for example.In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller is configured to executea pattern matching algorithm to follow the curves for each of the axisand use segments of 1 or more axis to determine if a characteristicswing has taken place, in either linear or rotational acceleration orany combination thereof. If the motion capture data in memory 4601 iswithin a range close enough to the values of a typical swing as shown inFIG. 13, then the motion is consistent with an event. Embodiments of theinvention thus reduce the number of false positives in event detection,after first characterizing the angular and/or linear velocity signatureof the movement, and then utilizing elements of this signature todetermine if similar signatures for future events have occurred.

The motion capture element collects data from various sensors. The datacapture rate may be high and if so, there are significant amounts ofdata that is being captured. Embodiments of the invention may use bothlossless and lossy compression algorithms to store the data on thesensor depending on the particular application. The compressionalgorithms enable the motion capture element to capture more data withinthe given resources. Compressed data is also what is transferred to theremote computer(s). Compressed data transfers faster. Compressed data isalso stored in the Internet “in the cloud”, or on the database using upless space locally.

FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of the motion capture element 111configured with optional LED visual indicator 1401 for local display andviewing of event related information and an optional LCD 1402 configuredto display a text or encoded message associated with the event. In oneor more embodiments, the LED visual indicator may flash slow yellow fora moderate type of concussion, and flash fast red for a severe type ofconcussion to give a quick overall view of the event without requiringany wireless communications. In addition, the LED may be asserted with anumber of flashes or other colors to indicate any temperature relatedevent or other event. One or more embodiments may also employ LCD 1402for example that may show text, or alternatively may display a codedmessage for sensitive health related information that a referee ormedical personnel may read or decode with an appropriate reader app on amobile device for example. In the lower right portion of the figure, theLCD display may produce an encoded message that states “PotentialConcussion 1500 degree/s/s rotational event detect—alert medicalpersonnel immediately”. Other paralysis diagnostic messages or any othertype of message that may be sensitive may be encoded and displayedlocally so that medical personnel may immediately begin assessing theuser/player/boxer without alarming other players with the diagnosticmessage for example, or without transmitting the message over the airwirelessly to avoid interception.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of templates characteristic of motionevents associated with different types of equipment and/or instrumentedclothing along with areas in which the motion capture sensor personalitymay change to more accurately or more efficiently capture dataassociated with a particular period of time and/or sub-event. As shown,the characteristic push off for a skateboard is shown in accelerationgraphs 1501 that display the X, Y and Z axes linear acceleration androtational acceleration values in the top 6 timelines, wherein timeincreases to the right. As shown, discrete positive x-axis accelerationcaptured is shown at 1502 and 1503 while the user pushes the skateboardwith each step, followed by negative acceleration as the skateboardslows between each push. In addition, y-axis wobbles during each pushare also captured while there is no change in the z axis linearacceleration and no rotational accelerations in this characteristictemplate or pattern of a skateboard push off or drive. Alternatively,the pattern may include a group of threshold accelerations in x atpredefined time windows with other thresholds or no threshold for wobblefor example that the captured data is compared against to determineautomatically the type of equipment that the motion capture element ismounted to or that the known piece of equipment is experiencingcurrently. This enables event based data saving and transmission forexample.

The pattern or template in graphs 1511 however show a running event asthe user slightly accelerates up and down during a running event. Sincethe user's speed is relatively constant there is relatively noacceleration in x and since the user is not turning, there is relativelyno acceleration in y (left/right). This pattern may be utilized tocompare within ranges for running for example wherein the patternincludes z axis accelerations in predefined time windows. Hence, the topthree graphs of graphs 1511 may be utilized as a pattern to notate arunning event. The bottom three graphs may show captured data that areindicative of the user looking from side to side when the motion captureelement is mounted in a helmet and/or mouthpiece at 1514 and 1515, whilecaptured data 1516 may be indicative of a moderate or sever concussionobserved via a rotational motion of high enough angular degrees persecond squared. In addition, the sensor personality may be altereddynamically at 1516 or at any other threshold for example to change themotion capture sensor rate of capture or bit size of capture to moreaccurately in amplitude or time capture the event. This enables dynamicalteration of quality of capture and/or dynamic change of powerutilization for periods of interest, which is unknown in the art. In oneor more embodiments, a temperature timeline may also be recorded forembodiments of the invention that utilize temperature sensors, eithermounted within a helmet, mouthpiece or in any other piece of equipmentor within the user's body for example.

FIG. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a protective mouthpiece 1601 infront view and at the bottom portion of the figure in top view, forexample as worn in any contact sport such as, but not limited to soccer,boxing, football, wrestling or any other sport for example. Embodimentsof the mouthpiece may be worn in addition to any other headgear with orwithout a motion capture element to increase the motion capture dataassociated with the user and correlate or in any other way combine orcompare the motion data and or events from any or all motion captureelements worn by the user. Embodiments of the mouthpiece and/or helmetshown in FIGS. 2A-B or in any other piece of equipment may also includea temperature sensor for example and as previously discussed.

FIG. 17 illustrates an embodiment of the algorithm utilized by anycomputer in FIG. 1 that is configured to display motion images andmotion capture data in a combined format. In one or more embodiments,the motion capture data and any event related start/stop times may besaved on the motion capture element 111. One or more embodiments of theinvention include a motion event recognition and video synchronizationsystem that includes at least one motion capture element configured tocouple with a user or piece of equipment or mobile device coupled withthe user. The at least one motion capture element may include a memory,a sensor configured to capture any combination of values associated withan orientation, position, velocity and acceleration of the at least onemotion capture element, a radio, a microcontroller coupled with thememory, the sensor and the radio. The microcontroller may be configuredto collect data that includes sensor values from the sensor, store thedata in the memory, analyze the data and recognize an event within thedata to determine event data, transmit the event data associated withthe event via the radio. The system may also include a mobile devicethat includes a computer, a wireless communication interface configuredto communicate with the radio to obtain the event data associated withthe event, wherein the computer is coupled with wireless communicationinterface, wherein the computer is configured to receive the event datafrom the wireless communication interface. The computer may also analyzethe event data to form motion analysis data, store the event data, orthe motion analysis data, or both the event data and the motion analysisdata, obtain an event start time and an event stop time from the event,request image data from camera that includes a video captured at leastduring a timespan from the event start time to the event stop time anddisplay an event video on a display that includes both the event data,the motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs duringthe timespan from the event start time to the event stop time and thevideo captured during the timespan from the event start time to theevent stop time.

When a communication channel is available, motion capture data and anyevent related start/stop times are pushed to, or obtained by orotherwise received by any computer, e.g., 101, 102, 102 a, 102 b, 105 at1701. The clock difference between the clock on the sensor and/or inmotion capture data times may also be obtained. This may be performed byreading a current time stamp in the incoming messages and comparing theincoming message time with the current time of the clock of the localcomputer, see also FIG. 18 for example for more detail onsynchronization. The difference in clocks from the sensor and computermay be utilized to request images data from any camera local or pointingat the location of the event for the adjusted times to take into accountany clock difference at 1702. For example, the computer may requestimages taken at the time/location by querying all cameras 103, 104, oron devices 101, 102 and/or 102 a for any or all such devices havingimages taken nearby, e.g., based on GPS location or wireless range,and/or pointed at the event obtained from motion capture element 111. Ifa device is not nearby, but is pointing at the location of the event, asdetermined by its location and orientation when equipped with amagnetometer for example, then it may respond as well with images forthe time range. Any type of camera that may communicate electronicallymay be queried, including nanny cameras, etc. For example, a message maybe sent by mobile computer 101 after receiving events from motioncapture sensor 111 wherein the message may be sent to any cameras forexample within wireless range of mobile device 101. Alternatively, or incombination, mobile device 101 may send a broadcast message asking forany cameras identities that are within a predefined distance from thelocation of the event or query for any cameras pointed in the directionof the event even if not relatively close. Upon receiving the list ofpotential cameras, mobile device 101 may query them for any imagesobtained in a predefined window around the event for example. Thecomputer may receive image data or look up the images locally if thecomputer is coupled with a camera at 1703. In one or more embodiments,the server 172 may iterate through videos and events to determine anythat correlate and automatically trim the videos to correspond to thedurations of the event start and stop times. Although wirelesscommunications may be utilized, any other form of transfer of image datais in keeping with the spirit of the invention. The data from the eventwhether in numerical or graphical overlay format or any other formatincluding text may be show with or otherwise overlaid onto thecorresponding image for that time at 1704. This is shown graphically attime 1710, i.e., the current time, which may be scrollable for example,for image 1711 showing a frame of a motion event with overlaid motioncapture data 1712. See FIG. 6 for combined or simultaneouslynon-overlaid data for example.

FIG. 18 illustrates an embodiment of the synchronization architecturethat may be utilized by one or more embodiments of the invention.Embodiments may synchronize clocks in the system using any type ofsynchronization methodology and in one or more embodiments the computer160 on the mobile device 101 is further configured to determine a clockdifference between the motion capture element 111 and the mobile deviceand synchronize the motion analysis data with the video. For example,one or more embodiments of the invention provides procedures formultiple recording devices to synchronize information about the time,location, or orientation of each device, so that data recorded aboutevents from different devices can be combined. Such recording devicesmay be embedded sensors, mobile phones with cameras or microphones, ormore generally any devices that can record data relevant to an activityof interest. In one or more embodiments, this synchronization isaccomplished by exchanging information between devices so that thedevices can agree on a common measurement for time, location, ororientation. For example, a mobile phone and an embedded sensor mayexchange messages across link 1802, e.g., wirelessly, with the currenttimestamps of their internal clocks; these messages allow a negotiationto occur wherein the two devices agree on a common time. Such messagesmay be exchanged periodically as needed to account for clock drift ormotion of the devices after a previous synchronization. In otherembodiments, multiple recording devices may use a common server or setof servers 1801 to obtain standardized measures of time, location, ororientation. For example, devices may use a GPS system to obtainabsolute location information for each device. GPS systems may also beused to obtain standardized time. NTP (Network Time Protocol) serversmay also be used as standardized time servers. Using servers allowsdevices to agree on common measurements without necessarily beingconfigured at all times to communicate with one another.

FIG. 19 illustrates the detection of an event by one of the motioncapture sensors 111, transmission of the event detection, here shown asarrows emanating from the centrally located sensor 111 in the figure, toother motion capture sensors 111 and/or cameras, e.g., on mobile device101, saving of the event motion data and trimming of the video tocorrespond to the event. In one or more embodiments of the invention,some of the recording devices are configured to detect the occurrence ofvarious events of interest. Some such events may occur at specificmoments in time; others may occur over a time interval, wherein thedetection includes detection of the start of an event and of the end ofan event. These devices are configured to record any combination of thetime, location, or orientation of the recording device, for exampleincluded in memory buffer 4610 for example along with the event data, orin any other data structure, using the synchronized measurement basesfor time, location, and orientation described above.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device may be furtherconfigured to discard at least a portion of the video outside of theevent start time to the event stop, for example portions 1910 and 1911before and after the event or event with predefined pre and postintervals 1902 and 1903. For example, in one or more embodiments of theinvention, some of the recording devices capture data continuously tomemory while awaiting the detection of an event. To conserve memory,some devices may be configured to store data to a more permanent localstorage medium, or to server 172, only when this data is proximate intime to a detected event. For example, in the absence of an eventdetection, newly recorded data may ultimately overwrite previouslyrecorded data in memory, depending on the amount of memory in eachdevice that is recording motion data or video data. A circular buffermay be used in some embodiments as a typical implementation of such anoverwriting scheme. When an event detection occurs, the recording devicemay store some configured amount of data prior to the start of theevent, near start of pre interval 1902 and some configured amount ofdata after the end of the event, near 1903, in addition to storing thedata captured during the event itself, namely 1901. Any pre or post timeinterval is considered part of the event start time and event stop timeso that context of the event is shown in the video for example. Thisgives context to the event, for example the amount of pre time intervalmay be set per sport for example to enable a setup for a golf swing tobe part of the event video even though it occurs before the actual eventof striking the golf ball. The follow through may be recorded as per theamount of interval allotted for the post interval as well.

Embodiments of the system may further comprise a server computer remoteto the mobile device and wherein the server computer is configured todiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and return the video captured during the timespan fromthe event start time to the event stop time to the computer in themobile device. The server or mobile device may combine or overlay themotion analysis data or event data, for example velocity or rawacceleration data with or onto the video to form event video 1900, whichmay thus greatly reduce the amount of video storage required as portions1910 and 1911 may be of much larger length in time that the event ingeneral.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may be configuredto transmit the event to at least one other motion capture sensor or atleast one other mobile device or any combination thereof, and whereinthe at least one other motion capture sensor or the at least one othermobile device or any combination thereof is configured to save dataassociated with the event. For example, in embodiments with multiplerecording devices operating simultaneously, one such device may detectan event and send a message to other recording devices that such anevent detection has occurred. This message can include the timestamp ofthe start and/or stop of the event, using the synchronized time basisfor the clocks of the various devices. The receiving devices, e.g.,other motion capture sensors and/or cameras may use the event detectionmessage to store data associated with the event to nonvolatile storage,for example within motion capture element 111 or mobile device 101 orserver 172. The devices may be configured to store some amount of dataprior to the start of the event and some amount of data after the end ofthe event, 1902 and 1903 respectively, in addition to the data directlyassociated with the event 1901. In this way all devices can record datasimultaneously, but use an event trigger from only one of the devices toinitiate saving of distributed event data from multiple sources.

Embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save the videofrom the event start time to the event stop time with the motionanalysis data that occurs from the event start time to the event stoptime or a remote server may be utilized to save the video. In one ormore embodiments of the invention, some of the recording devices may notbe in direct communication with each other throughout the time period inwhich events may occur. In these situations, devices can be configuredto save complete records of all of the data they have recorded topermanent storage or to a server. Saving of only data associated withevents may not be possible in these situations because some devices maynot be able to receive event trigger messages. In these situations,saved data can be processed after the fact to extract only the relevantportions associated with one or more detected events. For example,multiple mobile devices may record video of a player or performer, andupload this video continuously to server 172 for storage. Separately theplayer or performer may be equipped with an embedded sensor that is ableto detect events such as particular motions or actions. Embedded sensordata may be uploaded to the same server either continuously or at alater time. Since all data, including the video streams as well as theembedded sensor data, is generally timestamped, video associated withthe events detected by the embedded sensor can be extracted and combinedon the server. Embodiments of the server or computer may be furtherconfigured while a communication link is open between the at least onemotion capture sensor and the mobile device to discard at least aportion of the video outside of the event start time to the event stopand save the video from the event start time to the event stop time withthe motion analysis data that occurs from the event start time to theevent stop time. Alternatively, if the communication link is not open,embodiments of the computer may be further configured to save video andafter the event is received after the communication link is open, thendiscard at least a portion of the video outside of the event start timeto the event stop and save the video from the event start time to theevent stop time with the motion analysis data that occurs from the eventstart time to the event stop time. For example, in some embodiments ofthe invention, data may be uploaded to a server as described above, andthe location and orientation data associated with each device's datastream may be used to extract data that is relevant to a detected event.For example, a large set of mobile devices may be used to record videoat various locations throughout a golf tournament. This video data maybe uploaded to a server either continuously or after the tournament.After the tournament, sensor data with event detections may also beuploaded to the same server. Post-processing of these various datastreams can identify particular video streams that were recorded in thephysical proximity of events that occurred and at the same time.Additional filters may select video streams where a camera was pointingin the correct direction to observe an event. These selected streams maybe combined with the sensor data to form an aggregate data stream withmultiple video angles showing an event.

The system may obtain video from a camera coupled with the mobiledevice, or any camera that is separate from or otherwise remote from themobile device. In one or more embodiments, the video is obtained from aserver remote to the mobile device, for example obtained after a queryfor video at a location and time interval.

Embodiments of the server or computer may be configured to synchronizethe video and the event data, or the motion analysis data via imageanalysis to more accurately determine a start event frame or stop eventframe in the video or both, that is most closely associated with theevent start time or the event stop time or both. In one or moreembodiments of the invention, synchronization of clocks betweenrecording devices may be approximate. It may be desirable to improve theaccuracy of synchronizing data feeds from multiple recording devicesbased on the view of an event from each device. In one or moreembodiments, processing of multiple data streams is used to observesignatures of events in the different streams to assist withfine-grained synchronization. For example, an embedded sensor may besynchronized with a mobile device including a video camera, but the timesynchronization may be accurate only to within 100 milliseconds. If thevideo camera is recording video at 30 frames per second, the video framecorresponding to an event detection on the embedded sensor can only bedetermined within 3 frames based on the synchronized timestamps alone.In one embodiment of the device, video frame image processing can beused to determine the precise frame corresponding most closely to thedetected event. See FIG. 8 and description thereof for more detail. Forinstance, a shock from a snowboard hitting the ground as shown in FIG.17, that is detected by an inertial sensor may be correlated with theframe at which the geometric boundary of the snowboard makes contactwith the ground. Other embodiments may use other image processingtechniques or other methods of detecting event signatures to improvesynchronization of multiple data feeds.

Embodiments of the at least one motion capture element may include alocation determination element configured to determine a location thatis coupled with the microcontroller and wherein the microcontroller isconfigured to transmit the location to the computer on the mobiledevice. In one or more embodiments, the system further includes a serverwherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the location tothe server, either directly or via the mobile device, and wherein thecomputer or server is configured to form the event video from portionsof the video based on the location and the event start time and theevent stop time. For example, in one or more embodiments, the eventvideo may be trimmed to a particular length of the event, and transcodedto any or video quality for example on mobile device 101 or on server172 or on computer 105 or any other computer coupled with the system,and overlaid or otherwise integrated with motion analysis data or eventdata, e.g., velocity or acceleration data in any manner. Video may bestored locally in any resolution, depth, or image quality or compressiontype to store video or any other technique to maximize storage capacityor frame rate or with any compression type to minimize storage, whethera communication link is open or not between the mobile device, at leastone motion capture sensor and/or server. In one or more embodiments, thevelocity or other motion analysis data may be overlaid or otherwisecombined, e.g., on a portion beneath the video, that includes the eventstart and stop time, that may include any number of seconds beforeand/or after the actual event to provide video of the swing before aball strike event for example. In one or more embodiments, the at leastone motion capture sensor and/or mobile device(s) may transmit eventsand video to a server wherein the server may determine that particularvideos and sensor data occurred in a particular location at a particulartime and construct event videos from several videos and several sensorevents. The sensor events may be from one sensor or multiple sensorscoupled with a user and/or piece of equipment for example. Thus thesystem may construct short videos that correspond to the events, whichgreatly decreases video storage requirements for example.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller or the computer isconfigured to determine a location of the event or the microcontrollerand the computer are configured to determine the location of the eventand correlate the location, for example by correlating or averaging thelocation to provide a central point of the event, and/or erroneouslocation data from initializing GPS sensors may be minimized. In thismanner, a group of users with mobile devices may generate videos of agolfer teeing off, wherein the event location of the at least one motioncapture device may be utilized and wherein the server may obtain videosfrom the spectators and generate an event video of the swing and ballstrike of the professional golfer, wherein the event video may utilizeframes from different cameras to generate a BULLET TIME® video fromaround the golfer as the golfer swings. The resulting video or videosmay be trimmed to the duration of the event, e.g., from the event starttime to the event stop time and/or with any pre or post predeterminedtime values around the event to ensure that the entire event is capturedincluding any setup time and any follow through time for the swing orother event.

In one or more embodiments, the computer on the mobile device mayrequest at least one image or video that contains the event from atleast one camera proximal to the event directly by broadcasting arequest for any videos taken in the area by any cameras, optionally thatmay include orientation information related to whether the camera wasnot only located proximally to the event, but also oriented or otherwisepointing at the event. In other embodiments, the video may be requestedby the computer on the mobile device from a remote server. In thisscenario, any location and/or time associated with an event may beutilized to return images and/or video near the event or taken at a timenear the event, or both. In one or more embodiments, the computer orserver may trim the video to correspond to the event duration and again,may utilize image processing techniques to further synchronize portionsof an event, such as a ball strike with the corresponding frame in thevideo that matches the acceleration data corresponding to the ballstrike on a piece of equipment for example.

Embodiments of the computer on the mobile device or on the server may beconfigured to display a list of one or more times at which an event hasoccurred or wherein one or more events has occurred. In this manner, auser may find events from a list to access the event videos in rapidfashion.

Embodiments of the invention may include at least one motion capturesensor that is physically coupled with the mobile device. Theseembodiments enable any type of mobile phone or camera system with anintegrated sensor, such as any type of helmet mounted camera or anymount that includes both a camera and a motion capture sensor togenerate event data and video data.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a system is configured toenable integration of motion event data and video event data. FIG. 1illustrates core elements of embodiments of such a system. Motion eventdata may be provided by one or more motion capture elements 111, whichmay be configured to be attached to user 150 at location L1, to a pieceof equipment 110, or to a mobile device 130. These motion captureelements may include one or more sensors that measure motion values suchas orientation, position, velocity and acceleration. The motion captureelements may also include a memory, for storing capture data, and amicroprocessor for analyzing this data. They may also include a radiofor communicating with other devices and for transferring motion capturedata.

In some embodiments the microprocessor coupled with the motion captureelement may collect data from the sensor, store the data in its memory,and possibly analyze the data to recognize an event within the data. Itmay then transmit the raw motion data or the event data via the attachedradio. This raw motion data or event data may include other informationsuch an identifier of the motion capture element, the user, or theequipment, and an identifier of the type of event detected by the motioncapture element.

In some embodiments the system may also include one or more computers105 (a laptop or desktop computer), 160 (a mobile phone CPU), or othercomputers in communication with sensors or cameras. FIG. 1A illustratespossible components of an embodiment of a computer processor or“computer” 160 integrated into a mobile device. Computers may have awireless communication interface 164 that can communicate with theradios of one or more motion capture elements 111 to receive the eventdata associated with motion events. The computer may receive raw motiondata, and it may analyze this data to determine events. In otherembodiments the determination of events may occur in the motion captureelement 111, and the computer (such as 105 or 160) may receive eventdata. Combinations of these two approaches are also possible in someembodiments.

In some embodiments the computer or computers may further analyze eventdata to generate motion analysis data. This motion analysis data mayinclude characteristics of interest for the motion recorded by themotion capture element or elements. One or more computers may store themotion data, the event data, the motion analysis data, or combinationsthereof for future retrieval and analysis. Data may be stored locally,such as in memory 162, or remotely as in database 172. In someembodiments the computer or computers may determine the start time andend time of a motion event from the event data. They may then requestimage data from a camera, such as 103, 130, 130 a, or 130 b, that hascaptured video or one or more images for some time interval at leastwithin some portion of the time between this event start time and eventend time. The term video in this specification will include individualimages as well as continuous video, including the case of a camera thattakes a single snapshot image during an event interval. This video datamay then be associated with the motion data to form a portion of a videoand motion capture integration system. As shown camera 103 at locationL2 has field of view F2, while camera on mobile device 102 a at positionL3 has field of view F3. For cameras whose field of view overlaps anevent, intelligent selection of the best video is achieved in at leastone embodiment via image analysis. Sensors 107, such as environmentalsensors may also be utilized to trigger events or at least be queriedfor values to combine with event videos, for example wind speed,humidity, temperature, sound, etc. In other embodiments, the system mayquery for video and events within a predefined area around location L1,and may also use field of view of each camera at L2 and L3 to determineif the video has potentially captured the event.

In some embodiments the request of video from a camera may occurconcurrently with the capture or analysis of motion data. In suchembodiments the system will obtain or generate a notification that anevent has begun, and it will then request that video be streamed fromone or more cameras to the computer until the end of the event isdetected. In other embodiments, the user may gesture by tapping ormoving a motion capture sensor a predefined number of time to signifythe start of an event, for example tapping a baseball bat twice againstthe batter's shoes may signify the start of an at bat event.

In other embodiments the request of video may occur after a camera (suchas 103) has uploaded its video records to another computer, such as aserver 172. In this case the computer will request video from the server172 rather than directly from the camera.

In some embodiments the computer or computers may perform asynchronization of the motion data and the video data. Varioustechniques may be used to perform this synchronization. FIG. 1Eillustrates an embodiment of this synchronization process. Motioncapture element 111 includes a clock 2901, designated as “Clock S”. Whenan event occurs, the motion capture element generates timestamped data2910, with times t_(1S), t_(2S), t_(3S), etc. from Clock S. Camera 103captures video or images of some portion of the event. The camera alsoincludes a clock 2902, designated as “Clock I”. The camera generatestimestamped image data 2911, with times t_(1I), t_(2I), t_(3I), etc.from Clock I. Computer 105 receives the motion data and the image data.The computer contains another clock 2903, designated as “Clock C”. Thecomputer executes a synchronization process that consists of aligningthe various time scales from the three clocks 2912, 2913, and 2914. Theresult of this synchronization is a correspondence between the clocks2915. In general the alignment of clocks may require generating clockdifferences as well as stretching or shrinking timescales to reflectdifferent clock rates. In some embodiments individual data frames orimage frames may not be timestamped, but instead the first or last framemay be associated with a time and there may be a known clock rate forframe capture. In other embodiments data may not include a timestamp,but may be transmitted immediately upon capture so that the computer canestimate the time of capture based on time of receipt and possiblenetwork latency.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1E, the computer generates asynchronized event video 2920, which will include at least some of themotion data, event data, or motion analysis data obtained or calculatedbetween the event start time and the event end time, and some of thevideo or images obtained from the camera within this start time and endtime. This synchronized event video provides an augmented, integratedrecord of the event that incorporates both motion data and image data.In the example shown the synchronization process has assigned the firstimage frame F₁ to time t_(5C), and the first motion data frame D₁ totime t_(6C). In this example the image frame capture rate is twice thedata frame capture rate.

One or more embodiments of the invention may also obtain at least onevideo start time and at least one video stop time associated with atleast one video from at least one camera. One of the computers on thesystem may optionally synchronize the event data, the motion analysisdata or any combination thereof with the at least one video based on afirst time associated with the data or the event data obtained from theat least one motion capture element coupled with the user or the pieceof equipment or the mobile device coupled with the user and at least onetime associated the at least one video to create at least onesynchronized event video. Embodiments command at least one camera totransfer the at least one synchronized event video captured at leastduring a timespan from within the event start time to the event stoptime to another computer without transferring at least a portion of thevideo that occurs outside of the at least one video that occurs outsideof the timespan from within the event start time to the event stop timeto the another computer. One or more embodiments also may be configuredto overlay a synchronized event video comprising both of the event data,the motion analysis data or any combination thereof that occurs duringthe timespan from the event start time to the event stop time and thevideo captured during the timespan from the event start time to theevent stop time.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a computer may discardvideo that is outside of the time interval of an event, measured fromthe start time of an even to the stop time of an event. This discardingmay save considerable storage resources for video storage by saving onlythe video associated with an event of interest. FIG. 19 illustrates anembodiment of this process. Synchronized event video 1900 comprisesmotion and image data during an event, 1901, and for some predefined preand post intervals 1902 and 1903. Portions 1910 and 1911 before andafter the pre and post intervals are discarded.

In one or more embodiments, a computer configured to receive or processmotion data or video data may be a mobile device, including but notlimited to a mobile telephone, a smartphone 120, a tablet, a PDA, alaptop 105, a notebook, or any other device that can be easilytransported or relocated. In other embodiments, such a computer mayintegrated into a camera 103, 104, and in particular it may beintegrated into the camera from which video data is obtained. In otherembodiments, such a computer may be a desktop computer or a servercomputer 152, including but not limited to virtual computers running asvirtual machines in a data center or in a cloud-based service. In someembodiments, the system may include multiple computers of any of theabove types, and these computers may jointly perform the operationsdescribed in this specification. As will be obvious to one skilled inthe art, such a distributed network of computers can divide tasks inmany possible ways and can coordinate their actions to replicate theactions of a single centralized computer if desired. The term computerin this specification is intended to mean any or all of the above typesof computers, and to include networks of multiple such computers actingtogether.

In one or more embodiments, a microcontroller associated with a motioncapture element 111, and a computer 105, are configured to obtain clockinformation from a common clock and to set their internal local clocks2901 and 2903 to this common value. This methodology may be used as wellto set the internal clock of a camera 2902 to the same common clockvalue. The common clock value may be part of the system, or it may be anexternal clock used as a remote time server. Various techniques may beused to synchronize the clocks of individual devices to the commonclock, including Network Time Protocol or other similar protocols. FIG.18 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that uses an NTP or GPSserver 1801 as a common time source. By periodically synchronizingclocks of the devices to a common clock 1801, motion capture data andvideo data can be synchronized simply by timestamping them with the timethey are recorded.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may obtain or create a sequenceof synchronized event videos. The computer may display a compositesummary of this sequence for a user to review the history of the events.FIG. 20 illustrates an embodiment of this process. Video clips 1900 a,1900 b, 1900 c, 1900 d, and 1900 e are obtained at different timescorresponding to different events. Video or motion data prior to theseevents, 1910 and 1911, and between these events, 1910 a, 1901 b, 1910 c,and 1910 d, is removed. The result is composite summary 2000. In someembodiments this summary may include one or more thumbnail imagesgenerated from the videos. In other embodiments the summary may includesmaller selections from the full event video. The composite summary mayalso include display of motion analysis or event data associated witheach synchronized event video. In some embodiments, the computer mayobtain a metric and display the value of this metric for each event. Thedisplay of these metric values may vary in different embodiments. Insome embodiments the display of metric values may be a bar graph, linegraph, or other graphical technique to show absolute or relative values.In other embodiments color-coding or other visual effects may be used.In other embodiments the numerical values of the metrics may be shown.Some embodiments may use combinations of these approaches. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 20 the metric value for Speed associatedwith each event is shown as a graph with circles for each value.

In one or more embodiments, the computer may accept selection criteriafor a metric of interest associated with the motion analysis data orevent data of the sequence of events. For example, a user may providecriteria such as metrics exceeding a threshold, or inside a range, oroutside a range. Any criteria may be used that may be applied to themetric values of the events. In response to the selection criteria, thecomputer may display only the synchronized event videos or theirsummaries (such as thumbnails) that meet the selection criteria. FIG. 20illustrates an embodiment of this process. A selection criterion 2010has been provided specifying that Speed should be at least 5. Thecomputer responds by displaying 2001 with Clips 1 through Clip 4; Clip 5has been excluded based on its associated speed.

In some embodiments of the invention, the computer may sort and ranksynchronized event videos for display based on the value of a selectedmetric. This sorting and ranking may occur in some embodiments inaddition to the filtering based on selection criteria as describedabove. The computer may display an ordered list of metric values, alongwith videos or thumbnails associated with the events. Continuing theexample above as illustrated in FIG. 20, if a sorted display based onSpeed is specified, the computer generates 2002 with clips reorderedfrom highest speed to lowest speed. In one or more embodiments, thecomputer may generate a highlight reel that combines the video forevents that satisfy selection criteria. Such a highlight reel mayinclude the entire video for the selected events, or a portion of thevideo that corresponds to the important moments in the event asdetermined by the motion analysis. In some embodiments the highlightreel may include overlays of data or graphics on the video or onselected frames showing the value of metrics from the motion analysis.Such a highlight reel may be generated automatically for a user once theuser indicates which events to include by specifying selection criteria.In some embodiments the computer may allow the user to edit thehighlight reel to add or remove events, to lengthen or shorten the videoshown for each event, to add or remove graphic overlays for motion data,or to add special effects or soundtracks.

In one or more embodiments, a video and motion integration system mayincorporate multiple cameras, such as cameras 103, 104, 130, 130 a, and130 b. In such embodiments, a computer may request video correspondingto an event timeframe from multiple cameras that captured video duringthis timeframe. Each of these videos may be synchronized with the eventdata and the motion analysis data as described above for thesynchronization of a single video. Videos from multiple cameras mayprovide different angles or views of an event, all synchronized tomotion data and to a common time base.

In one or more embodiments with multiple cameras, the computer mayselect a particular video from the set of possible videos associatedwith an event. The selected video may be the best or most complete viewof the event based on various possible criteria. In some embodiments thecomputer may use image analysis of each of the videos to determine thebest selection. For example, some embodiments may use image analysis todetermine which video is most complete in that the equipment or peopleof interest are least occluded or are most clearly visible. In someembodiments this image analysis may include analysis of the degree ofshaking of a camera during the capture of the video, and selection ofthe video with the most stable images. FIG. 21 illustrates an embodimentof this process. Motion capture element 111 indicates an event, which isrecorded by cameras 103 a and 103 b. Computer 105 retrieves video fromboth cameras. Camera 103 b has shaking 2101 during the event. Todetermine the video with least shaking, Computer 105 calculates aninter-frame difference for each video. For example, this difference mayinclude the sum of the absolute value of differences in each pixel's RGBvalues across all pixels. This calculation results in frame differences2111 for camera 103 b and 2110 for camera 103 a. The inter-framedifferences in both videos increase as the event occurs, but they areconsistently higher in 2111 because of the increased shaking. Thecomputer is thus able to automatically select video 2110 in process2120. In some embodiments a user 2130 may make the selection of apreferred video, or the user may assist the computer in making theselection by specifying the most important criteria.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the computer may obtain orgenerate notification of the start of an event, and it may then monitorevent data and motion analysis data from that point until the end of theevent. For example, the microcontroller associated with the motioncapture element may send event data periodically to the computer oncethe start of an event occurs; the computer can use this data to monitorthe event as it occurs. In some embodiments this monitoring data may beused to send control messages to a camera that can record video for theevent. In embodiments with multiple cameras, control messages could bebroadcast or could be send to a set of cameras during the event.

In some embodiments these control messages sent to the camera or camerasmay modify the video recording parameters based on the data associatedwith the event, including the motion analysis data. FIG. 22 illustratesan embodiment of this process. Motion capture sensor 111 transmitsmotion data to computer 105, which then sends control messages to camera103. In the example shown, equipment 110 is initially at rest prior toan event. The computer detects that there is no active event, and sendsmessage 2210 to the camera instructing it to turn off recording andawait events. Motion 2201 begins and the computer detects the start ofthe event; it sends message 2211 to the camera to turn on recording, andthe camera begins recording video frames 2321 at a normal rate. Motionincreases rapidly at 2202 and the computer detects high speed; it sendsmessage 2212 to the camera to increase its frame rate to capture thehigh speed event. The camera generates video frames 2322 at a high rate.By using a higher frame rate during rapid motion, the user can slow themotion down during playback to observe high motion events in greatdetail. At 2203 the event completes, and the computer sends message 2213to the camera to stop recording. This conserves camera power as well asvideo memory between events.

More generally in some embodiments a computer may send control messagesto a camera or cameras to modify any relevant video recording parametersin response to event data or motion analysis data. These recordingparameters may for example include the frame rate, resolution, colordepth, color or grayscale, compression method, and compression qualityof the video, as well as turning recording on or off.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, the computer may accept asound track, for example from a user, and integrate this sound trackinto the synchronized event video. This integration would for exampleadd an audio sound track during playback of an event video or ahighlight reel. Some embodiments may use event data or motion analysisdata to integrate the sound track intelligently into the synchronizedevent video. For example, some embodiments may analyze a sound track todetermine the beats of the sound track based for instance on time pointsof high audio amplitude. The beats of the sound track may then besynchronized with the event using event data or motion analysis data.For example such techniques may automatically speed up or slow down asound track as the motion of a user or object increases or decreases.These techniques provide a rich media experience with audio and visualcues associated with an event.

In one or more embodiments, a computer is configured to playback asynchronized event video on one or more displays. These displays may bedirectly attached to the computer, or may be remote on other devices.Using the event data or the motion analysis data, the computer maymodify the playback to add or change various effects. Thesemodifications may occur multiple times during playback, or evencontinuously during playback as the event data changes.

As an example, in some embodiments the computer may modify the playbackspeed of a synchronized event video based on the event data or themotion analysis data. For instance, during periods of low motion theplayback may occur at normal speed, while during periods of high motionthe playback may switch to slow motion to highlight the details of themotion. Modifications to playback speed may be made based on anyobserved or calculated characteristics of the event or the motion. Forinstance, event data may identify particular sub-events of interest,such as the striking of a ball, beginning or end of a jump, or any otherinteresting moments. The computer may modify the playback speed to slowdown playback as the synchronized event video approaches thesesub-events. This slowdown could increase continuously to highlight thesub-event in fine detail. Playback could even be stopped at thesub-event and await input from the user to continue. Playback slowdowncould also be based on the value of one or more metrics from the motionanalysis data or the event data. For example, motion analysis data mayindicate the speed of a moving baseball bat or golf club, and playbackspeed could be adjusted continuously to be slower as the speed of suchan object increases. Playback speed could be made very slow near thepeak value of such metrics.

FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment of variable speed playback usingmotion data. Motion capture element 111 records motion sensorinformation including linear acceleration on the x-axis 1501. (Ingeneral many additional sensor values may be recorded as well; thisexample uses a single axis for simplicity.) Event threshold 2301 definesevents of interest when the x-axis linear acceleration exceeds thisthreshold. Events are detected at 1502 and 1503. Event 1502 begins at2302 and completes at 2303. On playback, normal playback speed 2310 isused between events. As the beginning of event 1502 approaches, playbackspeed is reduced starting at 2311 so the user can observe pre-eventmotion in greater detail. During the event playback speed is very slowat 2313. After the event end at 2303 playback speed increases graduallyback to normal speed at 2312.

In other embodiments, modifications could be made to other playbackcharacteristics not limited to playback speed. For example, the computercould modify any or all of playback speed, image brightness, imagecolors, image focus, image resolution, flashing special effects, or useof graphic overlays or borders. These modifications could be made basedon motion analysis data, event data, sub-events, or any othercharacteristic of the synchronized event video. As an example, asplayback approaches a sub-event of interest, a flashing special effectcould be added, and a border could be added around objects of interestin the video such as a ball that is about to be struck by a piece ofequipment.

In embodiments that include a sound track, modifications to playbackcharacteristics can include modifications to the playbackcharacteristics of the sound track. For example such modifications mayinclude modifications to the volume, tempo, tone, or audio specialeffects of the sound track. For instance the volume and tempo of a soundtrack may be increased as playback approaches a sub-event of interest,to highlight the sub-event and to provide a more dynamic experience forthe user watching and listening to the playback.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a computer may use eventdata or motion analysis data to selectively save only portions of videostream or recorded video. This is illustrated in FIG. 19 where videoportions 1910 and 1911 are discarded to save only the event video 1901with a pre-event portion 1902 and a post-event portion 1903. Suchtechniques can dramatically reduce the requirements for video storage byfocusing on events of interest. In some embodiments, a computer may havean open communication link to a motion capture sensor while an event isin progress. The computer may then receive or generate a notification ofa start of an event, and begin saving video at that time; it may thencontinue saving video until it receives or generates a notification ofthe end of the event. The computer may also send control messages to acamera or cameras during the event to initiate and terminate saving ofvideo on the cameras, as illustrated in FIG. 22.

In other embodiments the computer may save or receive videos and eventdata after the event has completed, rather than via a live communicationlink open through the event. In these embodiments the computer cantruncate the saved video to discard a portion of the video outside theevent of interest. For example, a server computer 152 may be used as arepository for both video and event data. The server could correlate theevent data and the video after upload, and truncate the saved video toonly the timeframes of interest as indicated by the event data.

In one or more embodiments a computer may use image analysis of a videoto assist with synchronization of the video with event data and motionanalysis data. For example, motion analysis data may indicate a strongphysical shock (detected, for instance, using accelerometers) that comesfor instance from the striking of a ball like a baseball or a golf ball,or from the landing of a skateboard after a jump. The computer mayanalyze the images from a video to locate the frame where this shockoccurs. For example, a video that records a golf ball may use imageanalysis to detect in the video stream when the ball starts moving; thefirst frame with motion of the golf ball is the first frame after theimpact with the club, and can then be synchronized with the shock in thecorresponding motion analysis data. This is illustrated in FIG. 24 whereimage analysis of the video identifies golf ball 2401. The frame whereball 2401 starts moving, indicated in the example as Impact Frame 34,can be matched to a specific point in the motion analysis data thatshows the shock of impact. These video and motion data frames can beused as key frames; from these key frames the video frames thatcorrespond most closely to the start and end of an event can be derived.

In one or more embodiments, a computer may use image analysis of a videoto generate a metric from an object within the video. This metric mayfor instance measure some aspect of the motion of the object. Suchmetrics derived from image analysis may be used in addition to or inconjunction with metrics obtained from motion analysis of data frommotion sensors. In some embodiments image analysis may use any ofseveral techniques known in the art to locate the pixels associated withan object of interest. For instance, certain objects may be known tohave specific colors, textures, or shapes, and these characteristics canbe used to locate the objects in video frames. As an example, a golfball may be known to be approximately round, white, and of textureassociate with the ball's materials. Using these characteristics imageanalysis can locate a golf ball in a video frame. Using multiple videoframes the approximate speed and rotation of the golf ball could becalculated. For instance, assuming a stationary or almost stationarycamera, the location of the golf ball in three-dimensional space can beestimated based on the ball's location in the video frame and based onits size. The location in the frame gives the projection of the ball'slocation onto the image plane, and the size provides the depth of theball relative to the camera. By using the ball's location in multipleframes, and by using the frame rate which gives the time differencebetween frames, the ball's velocity can be estimated.

FIG. 24 illustrates this process where golf ball is at location 2401 inframe 2403, and location 2402 in frame 2404. The golf ball has an iconthat can be used to measure the ball's distance from the camera and itsrotation. The velocity of the ball can be calculated using the distancemoved between frames and the time gap between frames. As a simpleexample if the ball's size does not change appreciably between frames,the pixel difference between the ball's locations 2402 and 2401 can betranslated to distance using the camera's field of view and the ball'sapparent size. The frame difference shown in the example is 2 frames(Frame 39 to Frame 41), which can be converted to time based on theframe rate of the camera. Velocity can then be calculated as the ratioof distance to time.

In one or more embodiments, a computer can access previously storedevent data or motion analysis data to display comparisons between a newevent and one or more previous events. These comparisons can be for thesame user and same equipment over time, or between different users anddifferent equipment. These comparisons can provide users with feedbackon their changes in performance, and can provide benchmarks againstother users or users of other types or models of equipment. As anillustration, FIG. 1D shows device 101 receiving event data associatedwith users 150 and 152. This data is transmitted to computer 105 fordisplay and comparison. A user 151 can compare performance of user 150and 152, and can track performance of each user over time.

In one or more embodiments, the microcontroller coupled to a motioncapture element is configured to communicate with other motion capturesensors to coordinate the capture of event data. The microcontroller maytransmit a start of event notification to another motion capture sensorto trigger that other sensor to also capture event data. The othersensor may save its data locally for later upload, or it may transmitits event data via an open communication link to a computer while theevent occurs. These techniques provide a type of master-slavearchitecture where one sensor can act as a master and can coordinate anetwork of slave sensors.

In one or more embodiments of the invention, a computer may use eventdata to discover cameras that can capture or may have captured video ofthe event. Such cameras need to be proximal to the location of theevent, and they need to be oriented in the correct direction to view theevent. In some systems the number, location, and orientation of camerasis not known in advance and must be determined dynamically. As an eventoccurs, a computer receiving event data can broadcast a request to anycameras in the vicinity of the event or oriented to view the event. Thisrequest may for example instruct the cameras to record event video andto save event video. The computer may then request video from theseproximal and correctly oriented cameras after the event. This isillustrated in FIG. 1 where computer 160 may receive notification of anevent start from motion capture element 111. Computer 160 may broadcasta request to all cameras in the vicinity such as 103, 104, 130, 130 a,and 130 b. As an example, cameras 103 and 130 may be proximal andcorrectly oriented to view the event; they will record video. Camera 104may be too far away, and cameras 130 a and 130 b may be close enough butnot aiming at the event; these cameras will not record video.

In some embodiments one or more videos may be available on one or morecomputers (such as servers 152, or cloud services) and may be correlatedlater with event data. In these embodiments a computer such as 152 maysearch for stored videos that were in the correct location andorientation to view an event. The computer could then retrieve theappropriate videos and combine them with event data to form a compositeview of the event with video from multiple positions and angles.

In one or more embodiments, a computer may obtain sensor values fromother sensors in addition to motion capture sensors, where these othersensors are proximal to an event and provide other useful dataassociated with the event. For example, such other sensors may sensevarious combinations of temperature, humidity, wind, elevation, light,sound and physiological metrics (like a heartbeat). The computer mayretrieve these other values and save them along with the event data andthe motion analysis data to generate an extended record of the eventduring the timespan from the event start to the event stop.

In one or more embodiments, the types of events detected, monitored, andanalyzed by the microprocessor, the computer, or both, may includevarious types of important motion events for a user, a piece ofequipment, or a mobile device. These important events may includecritical or urgent medical conditions or indicators of health. Some suchevent types may include motions indicative of standing, walking,falling, heat stroke, a seizure, violent shaking, a concussion, acollision, abnormal gait, and abnormal or non-existent breathing.Combinations of these event types may also be detected, monitored, oranalyzed.

FIG. 25 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for integratedsensor and video motion analysis. The flowchart shows illustrativedependencies between the steps. The dependencies are for illustrationonly; embodiments of the method may use different steps and may carryout the steps in any desired order. The input is obtained at 2500,Obtain Video, at 2510, Obtain Objects of Interest, and at 2570, ObtainMotion Sensor Data; the output is performed at 2590, Generate MotionMetrics. Video may be obtained from one or more cameras and may includeraw video or event based videos as determined in each camera or sensoror combination thereof. Transfer of event based videos and anydiscarding of non-event video provides for faster and more pertinentvideo processing and storage. Video may include single images capturedby a camera. Motion sensor data is obtained from one or more motioncapture elements. Sensors may communicate with other sensors tocommunicate that an event has occurred so that even if some sensors donot register an event the sensor and any associated camera may save apredetermined amount of motion data and/or image data before and afterthe event, even if not detected locally by the sensor or camera thatreceives the event. These motion capture elements may include one ormore sensors that measure any aspect of the motion of an object. Suchsensors may include for example, without limitation, accelerometers,gyroscopes, magnetometers, strain gauges, altimeters, speedometers, GPS,optical or sonic rangefinders, flow meters, pressure meters, radar, orsonar, and any other types of sensors such as temperature, humidity,wind, elevation, light, sound and physiological metrics, such asheartbeat sensors. Groups of sensors may be utilized to signify an eventas well, so that if the heart rates or sound increases above apredefined threshold, then a group event may be designated and publishedor otherwise broadcast, for example if filtered by location and time. Inaddition, social media sites may be sampled to correlate or augment theevent or group event. Quantities measured by these sensors may includefor example, without limitation, any combination of linear position,linear velocity, linear acceleration, trajectory, orientation, angularvelocity, angular acceleration, time of motion, time elapsed betweenpositions, time elapsed between start of motion and arriving at aposition, and time of impact, or any quantity or value associated withthe specific type of sensor, e.g., blood pressure, heart rate, altitude,etc. Motion sensor data and video may be obtained in any manner,including via wired or wireless network communication, for example withcameras containing an internal motion or other sensor, as well ascoupled externally or wirelessly to a camera for example. Sensor dataand video may be obtained synchronously during activities, or they maybe retrieved and analyzed after activities.

Objects of interest may include persons, equipment, or any combinationsthereof. These objects may be specific, such as a particular item with adesignated serial number, or they may be general categories of objects,any of which may be of interest. General categories may for exampleinclude categories such as “people running” or “golf balls” or“skateboards.” The particular objects of interest will depend on theapplication for each embodiment of the method. Illustrative equipment ofinterest may include for example, without limitation, balls, bats,clubs, rackets, gloves, protective gear, goals, nets, skateboards, skis,surfboards, roller skates, ice skates, cars, motorcycles, bicycles,helmets, shoes, medical devices, crutches, canes, walking sticks,walkers, and wheelchairs.

At 2520, Select Frames obtains a set of frames from the video or videos.In some embodiments or applications the entire video or videos may beselected. In some embodiments portions of the video or videos may beselected for analysis. Selection of relevant frames may be made on anybasis. For example, in one or more embodiments there may be externalinformation that indicates that only frames captured in particular timerange or captured from a particular viewpoint include activities ofinterest. In one or more embodiments frames may be down sampled toreduce processing requirements. In one or more embodiments apreprocessing step may be used to scan frames for potentially relevantactivities, and to select only those frames for subsequent analysis.

Associated with each object of interest there are one or moredistinguishing visual characteristics for that object. At 2510, in oneor more embodiments, the method may include obtaining thesedistinguishing visual characteristics for each object. Thesedistinguishing visual characteristics assist in locating and orientingthe objects of interest in the video frames. Examples of distinguishingvisual characteristics may include, without limitation, shape,curvature, size, color, luminance, hue, saturation, texture, and pixelpattern. Any visual characteristic that may assist in locating ororienting an object in a video frame may be used as a distinguishingvisual characteristic. As a simple example, a golf ball may bedistinguished by its shape (spherical), its color (typically white), andits size (typically about 43 mm in diameter); any one of thesecharacteristics, or any combination of them, may be used to identify oneor more golf balls in video frames.

At 2530, Search for Objects of Interest, the method uses thedistinguishing visual characteristics to find the objects of interest inthe selected video frames. One or more embodiments may employ anydesired search strategy to scan the pixels of the video frames for thedistinguishing visual characteristics. Below we will describe somesearch strategies that may be employed in one or more embodiments tolimit the search areas to specific regions of the frames. However, oneor more embodiments may conduct exhaustive searches to scan all pixelsof all frames to locate the objects of interest. Because pixel regionsin video frames may in some cases contain noise, occlusions, shadows, orother artifacts, these regions may not precisely match thedistinguishing visual characteristics even when an object of interest ispresent; one or more embodiments may therefore use any desiredapproximate matching techniques to estimate the probability that a pixelregion represents an object of interest. Such approximate matchingtechniques may for example include scoring of regions based oncorrelations of pixels with patterns expected based on thedistinguishing visual characteristics.

The result of 2530, Search for Objects of Interest, includes a list ofidentified objects that have been located in one or more of the frames,along with the pixel regions in those frames that contain thoseidentified objects. At 2550, Estimate Object Pose Relative to CameraPose, the method generates an estimate of the position or orientation(or both) of each identified object, relative to the position andorientation of the camera when the camera captured the video frame. Theterm “pose” in this specification refers to the position and orientationof an object relative to some coordinate system, or to partialinformation about the position, the orientation, or both. This usage of“pose” is standard in the art for robotics and computer graphics, forexample.

One or more embodiments of the method include techniques to estimateobject locations and orientations even when the camera or cameras usedto capture the video are moving during video capture. Moving camerascreate a significant challenge because apparent motion of objects may bedue to camera motion, to object motion, or to a combination of these twofactors. The embodiment shown in FIG. 25 addresses this issue in threeways: at 2550, the method estimates the pose of an identified objectrelative to the camera; at 2540, the method estimates the pose of thecamera relative to some fixed coordinate system (for example acoordinate system associated with the scene or scenes captured by thecamera); at 2560, the method transforms the object pose to the commoncoordinate system. One or more embodiments may use any techniques toseparate camera movement from object movement; the steps shown here aresimply illustrative. Moreover in one or more embodiments of the method,it may be known (or inferred) that the camera was not moving duringvideo capture (or during a portion of video capture); in theseembodiments, step 2540 is optional and may be unnecessary, and steps2550 and 2560 may be combined, for example.

At 2560, objects of interest have been identified, and the pose of eachobject relative to a common coordinate system has been determined. Fromthis pose data it is then possible to generate various motion metricsfor each identified object. For example, the trajectory of an object isobtained simply by tracking its location (in the common coordinatesystem) over time. The velocity of an object may be obtained by dividingthe inter-frame change in location by the time between frames. Variousother motion metrics may be calculated for each identified object,including for example, without limitation, position, orientation,trajectory, velocity, acceleration, angular velocity, and angularacceleration.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 25 obtains additional information aboutobject movements at 2570, Obtain Motion Sensor Data. In one or moreembodiments, one or more of the objects of interest may have motioncapture elements attached to or otherwise observing motions of theobjects. These motion capture elements have sensors that collect dataabout object movements. In one or more embodiments, this sensor data isintegrated with the motion metrics derived from video analysis to formintegrated motion metrics. In order to combine sensor data and videoinformation, one or more embodiments first synchronize this data to acommon time scale. This synchronization occurs at 2580, SynchronizeVideo and Motion Sensor Data. In some embodiments the clocks of camerasand motion capture elements may be synchronized prior to data and videocapture; in these situations synchronization may be unnecessary ortrivial. In other embodiments the clocks of the various devices (camerasand sensors) may not be synchronized, and a post-capture synchronizationstep at 2580 may be necessary.

After video frames and motion sensor data are synchronized, the data maybe integrated at 2590 to Generate Motion Metrics. This data integrationis a “sensor fusion” process, which combines information from differentkinds of sensors to create an integrated view of the motion of theidentified objects. Embodiments may use any desired techniques forsensor fusion, including for example, without limitation, Kalmanfilters, extended Kalman filters, complementary filters, Bayesiannetworks, multiple hypothesis testing, and particle filters. In someembodiments sensor fusion may include simple weighted averaging ofestimates from different data sources, for example with weightsinversely proportional to the error variance of each data source. One ormore embodiments may for example use video information for absolutepositioning, and use sensor data for tracking changes in position (forexample using inertial sensors).

The specific steps shown in FIG. 25 are described in greater detail asper FIG. 26, which illustrates examples of 2510, Obtain Objects ofInterest, which includes obtaining the distinguishing visualcharacteristics of these objects. In this illustrative example, threeobjects of interest are obtained: golf club 2601, golf ball 2602, andgolfer 2603. As discussed above, these objects may be specific items, orthey may represent general categories. For example, golf club 2601 mayrepresent a specific driver belonging to a particular golfer, or it maybe a general category for all drivers, or for all clubs. Distinguishingvisual characteristics 2611, 2612, and 2613 illustrate possiblecharacteristics for items 2601, 2602, and 2603, respectively. Theseexamples are simply illustrative; embodiments may use any desiredcharacteristics to identify objects of interest. For golf club 2601,possible distinguishing characteristics 2611 include the long length ofthe club relative to its width, the shape of the clubhead, and themetallic color of the shaft. For golf ball 2602, possible distinguishingcharacteristics 2612 include the circular shape of the ball and itstypically white color. Characteristics for golfer 2603 may be morecomplex, since unlike the golf club and the golf ball, the golfer is nota rigid body; hence the golfer's shape may change. Nevertheless certainpossible characteristics 2613 may include a relatively large heightcompared to width, the general body shape of having a torso with anattached head, legs, and arms, and possibly skin tone colors for theface or other exposed areas.

The illustrative distinguishing visual characteristics 2611 and 2612also include information on the size of the objects. This sizeinformation may be helpful in locating the objects in video frames; inaddition, known object sizes provide a reference that allows forestimation of the distance of the object from the camera, since apparentsize is inversely proportional to distance.

The issue of camera motion and how one or more embodiments of the methodmay identify and compensate for camera motion is shown in FIG. 27, whichillustrates an example with a moving object and a moving camera. Acamera at initial location 2710 a views scene 2701 a, which containsmoving golf ball 2702 a and stationary flag 2704 a. The frame capturedat this point in time is 2711 a. Golf ball 2702 a is moving to the rightalong the horizontal x-axis and downwards on the vertical y-axis. Usinga coordinate system fixed to the initial camera pose 2710 a, golf ball2702 a is at x coordinate 2703 a (x0) in the scene, and the image 2712 aof the ball in frame 2711 a is also at x0. The image of the flag 2714 ain 2711 a is at x coordinate 2715 a (x2).

The camera then moves to the right by amount Δx, to location 2710 b. Inthis time, the golf ball also moves rightward by Δx to location 2702 b,at x coordinate 2703 b (x1). In the image 2711 b of the camera at 2710b, it appears that the golf ball is at location 2712 b, with xcoordinate 2713 b unchanged; and it appears that the flag has moved tothe left to 2714 b, at x coordinate 2715 b (x1). Without accounting forcamera motion, analysis of the frames 2711 a and 2711 b would indicatethat the flag is moving left, and the ball is dropping but not movinghorizontally.

In this example, detecting the change in camera pose is straightforwardbecause the analysis can use the fact that the true position of the flaghas not changed. Therefore it is straightforward to deduce that thecamera has moved to the right by Δx. In general camera motion mayinvolve movement in any direction, as well as changes in cameraorientation, so the analysis may be more complex. However the principleof using stationary objects to deduce changes in camera pose can be usedin one or more embodiments even in these more complex situations.

One or more embodiments may use camera sensors to determine the pose ofthe camera during the capture of each of the video frames. If thissensor data is available, image analysis to deduce camera pose, such asthe analysis described above, may not be necessary, because the camerapose may be available directly. For example, in FIG. 27 the camera 2710b may be equipped with sensor 2720, which detects changes in camerapose. Such a camera pose sensor may for example include inertialsensors, GPS, or any other sensor or sensors that track position,orientation, or changes thereof.

FIG. 28 illustrates an example of using the deduced change in camerapose to convert object pose changes to common coordinates. In thisexample, step 2560 transforms frame 2711 b to frame 2811 b, which shiftsall objects to the right by Δx. Frame 2811 b is now in the samecoordinate system as frame 2711 a, and object motion can be determineddirectly. The change 2801 in ball position can be calculated from thesetwo frames. Moreover using the apparent size 2802 (d) in pixels of thegolf ball in frame 2711 b and the ball's actual size s, it is possibleto convert the position change 2801 (Δr) from pixels to distance units,for example as Δr′=(Δr)(s/d). (This conversion presumes that theapparent size of the ball 2712 a is the same in frames 2711 a and 2711b; if the ball's apparent size changes, and additional analysis would berequired to account for the movement of the ball perpendicular to thevideo frames.) From the frame rate for the video, it is possible todetermine the time difference Δt between frames, and thus to calculatethe ball's velocity vector as v=Δr′/Δt.

The illustrative example continues in FIG. 29 by presuming that the ball2712 a has an attached motion capture element 2901, shown as a starsymbol. In this example, the motion capture element includes an inertialsensor with a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope, and possibleother sensors as well. Sensor data is transmitted wirelessly overchannel 2902 to receiver 2903, with only x-axis data shown in thefigure. Using inertial navigation techniques known in the art,accelerometer and gyro data are integrated at step 2911, yielding motionmetrics in a fixed coordinate system, including the linear velocityestimate 2912 from sensor data. From video frame analysis, the shift inball position 2801 in video frame 2811 b is translated to a linearvelocity estimate 2910. The sensor velocity estimate 2912 and the videovelocity estimate 2910 are combined by sensor fusion module 2913,forming a final ball velocity estimate 2920. For example, one simpleillustrative sensor fusion technique is to take a weighted averagev=αv_(video)+(1−α)v_(sensor) where the weighting factor α may depend onthe relative error variances of the video estimate and the sensorestimate.

We now discuss some possible approaches to step 2580, synchronizingvideo and motion sensor data. FIG. 30 illustrates an embodiment thatsynchronizes video and sensor data using events. In one or moreembodiments, certain types of events may be identified along withsignatures for the events in both the sensor data and the video data.Synchronization may then be performed by scanning video frames for avideo event signature, scanning sensor data for the corresponding sensordata signature, and aligning the sensor clock and video clock at thetime of the event. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 30, the event usedfor synchronization is the impact of a golf clubhead with a golf ball.In this embodiment a sensor with an accelerometer is attached to thegrip of the golf club to detect the shock from the impact of theclubhead with the ball. The sensor or an analysis system receiving datafrom the sensor monitors the magnitude of the acceleration 3020 receivedfrom the accelerometer. A video camera captures video showing the swingof the club, shown as frames 3001 a, 3001 b, 3001 c, and 3001 d. Thesensor data signature 3030 for the impact event is that the magnitude ofthe acceleration exceeds a designated threshold value; this correspondsto the impact shock. In this example, this sensor signature is detectedat 3031 at time t-s1 relative to the sensor clock time 3022. The videosignature 3010 for the impact event is that the clubhead is directlyadjacent to the ball. Other signatures are possible as well; for examplein one or more embodiments the beginning of ball movement may be used asa video signature for an impact. The video signature 3010 is detected at3011 at time t-v3 relative to the camera's clock time. Synchronizationof the sensor clock and the camera clock then consists of aligning thetime 3031 of the sensor data signature with the time 3011 of the videosignature, at step 3040.

FIG. 31 illustrates another approach to synchronization that may be usedby one or more embodiments. This approach uses comparable motion metricsderived from sensor data and from video frames. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 31, velocity of a selected object as measured by sensor data2912 is compared to the velocity 2910 of this object as measured byvideo frame analysis. It is apparent that the two velocity graphs haveapproximately the same shape, but they are offset by a time difference3101 representing the difference in the sensor clock and the cameraclock. To determine the time difference, a signal correlation graph 3102may be used; the peak correlation 3103 shows the time offset needed tosynchronize the clocks.

One or more embodiments may use methods to identify false positiveevents. These false positives have signatures that are similar to thoseof desired events, but they are caused by spurious actions. FIG. 32illustrates an example where the desired event is the impact of a golfclubhead with a golf ball. This impact may be detected by anaccelerometer attached to the golf club since the shock of impact causesa spike in acceleration. The sensor data signature 3030 for the event isthat the magnitude of acceleration exceeds a specified threshold value.However this sensor data signature may be a false positive, in thatshocks to the club other than impact with the ball may also produce thesignature. For example, as shown at 3202, tapping the club on the groundmay produce an acceleration signature which is a false positive. In oneor more embodiments, a false positive may be distinguished from a trueevent by combining a sensor data signature and a video signature. InFIG. 32, the video signature for the event of the clubhead impacting theball is, for example, that the video shows the clubhead adjacent to theball. Analysis of video frames 3201 a, 3201 b, 3201 c, and 3201 d doesnot show this video signature. Thus the apparent event signature 3030may be combined with the non-signature 3210 from the video to classifythe event as a false positive 3220. The converse situation may alsooccur where video analysis shows an apparent event via a videosignature, but the sensor data shows this apparent event to be a falsepositive.

One or more embodiments may use multi-stage tests to distinguish betweenfalse positive events and valid events. FIG. 32A illustrates anembodiment that monitors sensor data using a two-stage detection processto find prospective events. First acceleration magnitude 3020 ismonitored against threshold value 32A01. When the acceleration magnitudeexceeds the threshold, a second stage of threshold testing is initiated,here on the value 32A02 of the y-axis of acceleration. If this valueexceeds the second threshold value 32A03 during time interval 32A04, theembodiment signals a prospective event 32A05. This prospective eventtriggers two additional event validation steps. First another motionmetric 32A05 from the motion capture sensor, here the y-axis of angularvelocity, is compared to a typical sensor data signature 32A06 for thismetric. If the metric does not matches the sensor data signature, theevent is declared to be a false positive 32A10. Otherwise a secondvalidation check is performed using video analysis. Image 3201 c iscompared to an expected video signature 3010 to validate the event. Ifthese images match, a valid event 32A20 is declared; otherwise theprospective event is classified as a false positive 32A10. The specificmetrics, thresholds, and tests shown in FIG. 32A are for illustrationonly; embodiments may use any combinations of any metrics for detectionand validation of events, and may combine sensor data and video data inany desired manner to perform this detection and validation. Forexample, in one or more embodiments, a valid event may require only oneof the sensor data signature and the video signature, rather thanrequiring both as shown in FIG. 32A.

In one or more embodiments, objects of interest may include motioncapture elements with visual markers. A visual marker may have adistinctive pattern or color, for example, that forms part of thedistinguishing visual characteristics for that object. FIG. 33illustrates an example with motion capture element 3302 attached to golfclub 3301; the pattern 3303 on the motion capture element is a visualmarker. In one or more embodiments, the pattern of the visual marker maybe designed to assist in determining the orientation of the associatedobject; this is facilitated by using a visual marker with a pattern like3303 that has no rotational symmetries: any rotation produces a distinctpattern like 3304 which is not identical to the unrotated pattern 3303.

We now discuss illustrative embodiments of step 2550, determining thepose of an identified object relative to the camera pose. Pose consistsof location, orientation, or both. FIG. 34 illustrates an example ofdetermining the location of an identified object. The object of interestis golf ball 2712 a in frame 2711 a. The frame has width 3403 (w) inpixels, and horizontal field of view 3404 (α. The two-dimensionallocation of the ball in the frame is at x coordinate 3401 (x0) and ycoordinate (y0) relative to the center of the frame. These coordinatesare in the pixel space of the frame, rather than in a three-dimensionalspace determined by the camera. The ball 2712 a has an apparent size2802 (d) in pixel space. We define xyz coordinate system 3410 with thez-axis pointing towards the camera, and the origin at the focal point ofthe camera. We take the frame 2711 a to be a projection onto the imageplane 3412 with z=−1, rescaled to pixels via the factor

$s = {{w/2}\; {{\tan \left( \frac{\alpha}{2} \right)}.}}$

In this image plane, the ball is at coordinates 3411, with(x1,y1,z1)=(x0/s,y0/s,−1). Assuming that the actual size of the ball isknown, the distance of the ball from the camera can be determined, asdiscussed above. Using the apparent size 2802 (d) and actual size 3413(b) of the ball, the ball is at location 3414 with(x2,y2,z2)=(bx0/d,by0/d,−bs/d).

FIG. 35 illustrates an example of determining the orientation of anidentified object. The object of interest is golf ball 3501 in frame2711 a. The golf ball is equipped with a visual marker that has norotational symmetry. Step 2550 of estimating the object's pose relativeto the camera pose compares the observed visual marker pattern 3501 to areference pattern 3502 that represents the unrotated orientation of theobject. One or more embodiments may obtain a reference pattern for anobject from the distinguishing visual characteristics for the object;for example, an embodiment may define a natural baseline orientationthat is used as a reference pattern. One or more embodiments may insteador in addition obtain a reference pattern from another video frame, inorder to determine the change in orientation between frames. One methodthat may be used by one or more embodiments to determine the object'srotation is to search for an angle of rotation that maximizes thecorrelation (or minimizes the difference) between the observed pattern3501 and the reference pattern 3502 after the rotation is applied. Forexample graph 3510 shows the spatial correlation between these patternsfor various angles of rotation; the peak correlation 3511 occurs atangle 3512, which represents the orientation of the object 3501. Thisexample illustrates finding a single rotation angle; in some embodimentsit may be desired to find a rotation that may have up to three degreesof freedom. A similar approach may be used in these embodiments tosearch for a rotation that minimizes the differences between theobserved pattern and the rotated reference pattern.

One or more embodiments may use only location information about anidentified object, in which case the step of determining objectorientation is not necessary. One or more embodiments may use onlyorientation information about an object, in which case the step ofdetermining object location is not necessary. One or more embodimentsmay use only partial information about location or orientation, in whichcase the steps may be simplified; for example, in some applications itmay be necessary only to determine vertical location (height) ratherthan complete xyz location.

We return now to the issue of locating an object of interest in a videoframe. As discussed above, one approach used in one or more embodimentsis to conduct an exhaustive search of all pixels looking for a match tothe distinguishing visual characteristics of the object. However in someembodiments there may be additional information available that can limitthe area that needs to be searched. For example, in some embodiments itmay be possible to create a physical model of the possible or probabletrajectories of an object. Such a physical model will depend on thespecific object and on the application for the embodiment. Using such aphysical model, it may be possible to predict regions with a highprobability of finding an object, based for example on the object'sposition in previous frames. FIG. 36 illustrates an embodiment that usesa physical model. Golf ball 3602 a appears in frames 3601 a, 3601 b, and3601 c. We presume for illustration that the locations of the ball inframes 3601 a and 3601 b have been found, and that it is desired to findthe location of the ball in frame 3601 c. The embodiment uses physicalmodel 3610 for the trajectory of the ball; this model presumes that theonly force on the ball while it is in flight is the downward force ofgravity. (Air resistance is neglected here; other embodiments may usemore complex physical models that take air resistance into account, forexample. This model also shows movement only in the x-y plane for easeof illustration; other embodiments may use models that consider movementin all three axes, for example.) Using the locations 3602 a and 3602 bof the ball in frames 3601 a and 3601 b, respectively, the parameters ofthe model 3610 (x₀,y₀,v_(x),v_(y)) can be determined. The location 3620of the ball in frame 3601 c can then be predicted by extrapolating thetrajectory forward in time. Here we show the region as an area ratherthan a single point; this reflects that in one or more embodiments thephysical model may take into account uncertainties in model parametersto generate probable regions for trajectories rather than simple pointestimates.

Use of physical models as illustrated in FIG. 36 may also assist indisambiguating objects in frames. For example, in FIG. 36, frame 3601 ahas two golf balls, 3602 a, and 3603 a. Two balls also appear insubsequent frames. A simple search for pixel patterns of a golf ball mayidentify the relevant areas, but may not easily determine which areascorrespond to which of the two golf balls over time. As shown in FIG.36, the physical model makes it clear that the ball 3603 is stationaryand that region 3620 contains the location of the moving ball in thethird frame.

Another technique that may be used in one or more embodiments to reducethe search area for objects of interest is to use frame differencing toidentify regions with moving object. An example of this technique isillustrated in FIG. 37. As in FIG. 36, there are three frames 3601 a,3601 b, and 3601 c, with one moving golf ball and one stationary golfball. Frame differences are calculated at 3701 and 3705, yielding 3702that shows areas that differ between frames 3601 a and 3601 b, and 3706that shows areas that differ between frames 3601 b and 3601 c. Thesearch for a moving golf ball may focus for example on these areas ofdifference, 3703, 3704, 3707, and 3708. A further optimization may bemade by using intersection 3710 to find common areas of difference 3711for the frame 3601 b between the forward difference 3706 and thebackward difference 3702. In this example the intersection 3711 has onlya single region, which is the likely location of the moving golf ball inframe 3601 b.

We now discuss a technique that may be used in one or more embodimentsto transform frames to a common coordinate system. As discussed above,such transformations may be needed when there is camera motion inaddition to object motion. In FIG. 38, a camera initially at pose 3802captures frame 3801. The camera then moves to pose 3803, generatingframe 3804. (Note that objects are shown shaded in 3801 and not shadedin 3804; this is simply for ease of illustration of the techniqueexplained below.) It is desired to transform frame 3804 to the originalcamera pose 3802, so that moving objects of interest (not shown here)may be identified. One or more embodiments may use the followingtechnique, or variants thereof: First an overall frame translation 3805is determined between the frames, where this frame translation aligns acenter region of the first frame 3801 with the corresponding centerregion of the translated frame from 3804. The center region may be ofany desired shape and size. In the example shown, the center region of3801 contains an image of a house. Frame 3804 is therefore shifted byframe translation 3805 to align the house in the two frames, as shown at3806. This frame translation does not completely align the two frames,because the change in camera pose does not (in this illustrative case)result in a uniform translation of all objects in the frames. Thereforethe method proceeds to make additional local alignments. The frame 3804is divided into tiles. In FIG. 38 the frame is divided into 9 tilesusing a 3×3 grid; one or more embodiments may use any desired number andarrangement of tiles, including nonrectangular tiles or tiles of anyshape and size. Each tile is then translated by a local tile translationto align it with the corresponding tile of the previous frame. Forexample, the upper left tile containing the sun is shifted left by localtranslation 3809. The middle tiles containing the flag are shifted rightby local translation 3808. In general the alignment created by theoverall frame translation and the local tile translations may not resultin a perfect match between pixels of the previous frame and thetranslated subsequent frame; one or more embodiments may use heuristicsto find a best alignment, for example by minimizing pixel differencesafter the frame translation and the local tile translations.

One or more embodiments may calculate motion metrics that include a timeof impact for an object of interest. For example, as discussed above, anembodiment that focuses on golf may calculate the time of impact betweena golf clubhead and a golf ball; similar impact times may be useful forexample in other sports applications such as baseball, tennis, hockey,or cricket. A technique used by one or more embodiments to determineimpact time is to look for a discontinuity in an associated motionmetric. For example, without limitation, an impact may result in arapid, discontinuous change in velocity, acceleration, angular velocity,or angular acceleration. FIG. 39 illustrates an embodiment that uses adiscontinuity in velocity to detect an impact. Ball 3901 is movingtowards wall 3911. Five video frames 3901, 3902, 3903, 3904, and 3905are captured. Using techniques similar for example to those discussedabove, the horizontal velocity vector is determined for each of the fiveframes. The graph 3920 of horizontal velocity over time shows an obviousdiscontinuity between time t3 and time t4; thus the embodimentdetermines that the impact of the ball with the wall occurred somewherein the time interval 3921 between t3 and t4.

One or more embodiments may use techniques to determine more preciseestimates of impact times. The method illustrated above is only able todetermine the impact time within a range between a sample (here a videoframe) prior to impact and a sample after impact. An inter-sampleestimate for impact time may be developed by estimating a forwardtrajectory for the object prior to impact, and a backward trajectory forthe object after impact, and calculating the time of intersection ofthese two trajectories. This technique is illustrated in graph 3930.Forward trajectory 3931 shows the horizontal position (x) decreasingover time prior to impact. Backward trajectory 3932 shows the horizontalposition (x) increasing over time after impact. The intersection point3940 of these two trajectories gives an estimate for the time of impact,which is between the sample times t3 and t4.

In one or more embodiments of the method, a desired trajectory for anobject is known or may be estimated. For example, in an embodiment thatmeasures golf swings, the desired trajectory for the golf ball istowards the hole. In baseball, for example, the desired trajectory for abaseball hit by a batter may be for the baseball to be hit fair anddeep. Using video analysis sensor data, or both, one or more embodimentsmay measure the actual trajectory of an object of interest, and comparethis actual trajectory to the desired trajectory. This comparisongenerates a motion metric for the object. Moreover, one or moreembodiments may further measure the initial conditions that generatedthe observed trajectory. For example, in golf, the orientation,location, and velocity of the clubhead at the time of impact with theball determines the subsequent ball trajectory. Similarly in baseballthe orientation, location, and velocity of the bat at the time of impactwith the ball determines the subsequent ball trajectory (along with thevelocity of the ball as thrown by the pitcher). These initial conditionsmay be measured as motion metrics as well, again using sensor data,video analysis, or both. One or more embodiments may further calculatethe changes that would be necessary in these initial conditions togenerate the desired trajectory instead of the observed trajectory, andreport these changes as additional motion metrics. FIG. 40 illustratesan example with an embodiment that measures putting. The putter has asensor 4010 on the grip, which measures the motion of the putter. Inaddition video camera 4020 records the trajectory of the ball after itis hit. The desired trajectory 4023 for the ball is towards and into thehole 4002. In this example, the ball 4000 is hit at an angle, and theball travels on actual trajectory 4022, coming to rest at 4001. Thistrajectory is observed by camera 4020 and analyzed by analysis module4021. The resulting motion metrics 4030 and 4040 provide feedback to thegolfer about the putt. Metrics 4030 are calculated from the sensor onthe putter; they show for example that the speed of the putter at impactwas 3 mph, and that the putter face rotated 1 degree to the left fromthe backstroke to the forward stroke. Analysis of the trajectory 4022determines that the required correction to the putt to put the ball inthe hole requires aiming 5 degrees more to the right, and increasing theputter speed by 10%. The analysis of changes in initial conditionsneeded to change a trajectory to a desired trajectory may for exampletake into account any other factors that may influence the trajectory,such as in this case the speed or the slope of the putting green.

In one or more embodiments, sensor or video data may be collected overlong periods of time, where only certain portions of those time periodscontain interesting activities. One or more embodiments may thereforereceive signatures of activities of interest, and use these signaturesto filter the sensor and video data to focus on those activities ofinterest. For example, in one or more embodiments, a set of highlightframes may be selected from a video that show specifically theactivities of interest. FIG. 41 illustrates an example of an embodimentthat generates highlight frames using sensor data to locate activitiesof interest. A snowboard has an attached sensor 4102, which includes anaccelerometer. In addition video camera 4101 captures video of thesnowboarder. In one or more embodiments, the video camera 4101 may beattached to the user, and the camera may include the sensor 4102. Theembodiment obtains signature 4120 for activities of interest. In thisillustrative example, one activity of interest is a jump at high speed.The signature for a jump is that the magnitude of the acceleration dropsbelow g/2, indicating that the snowboard is in free fall, and that themagnitude of the velocity is above 50 mph. Acceleration magnitude 4110received from sensor 4102 is compared to the acceleration thresholdvalue over time. The accelerometer is integrated (along with data fromother inertial sensors such as a gyro) to form velocity data 4111. Theacceleration magnitude drops below the threshold at frame 4103 becausethe snowboarder makes a small jump; however the velocity at that time isnot sufficiently fast to match the activity signature 4120. Theacceleration magnitude drops again below the threshold at timecorresponding to video frame 4104; at this time the velocity alsoexceeds the required threshold, so the data matches the activitysignature 4120. Three highlight video frames 4130 are selected to showthe jump activity that was detected by comparing the acceleration motionmetric to the threshold. One or more embodiments may select highlightframes during an activity of interest that include all of the framescaptured during the activity time period. One or more embodiments mayadd additional frames to the highlight frames that are before or afterthe activity time period. One or more embodiments may sample onlyselected frames during the activity time period, for example to generatea small set of highlight images rather than a complete video. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 41, the speed of the snowboard is overlaidwith graphic overlay 4135 onto the highlight frames; this speed may becalculated for example from the sensor data, from the video analysis, orby sensor fusion of both data sources. One or more embodiments mayoverlay any desired metrics or graphics onto highlight frames. Highlightframes 4130 with overlays 4135 are then distributed over network 4140 toany set of consumers of the highlight frames. In one or more embodimentsthat generate highlight frames, consumers of highlight frames mayinclude for example, without limitation: any video or image viewingdevice; repositories for video, images, or data; a computer of any type,such as a server, desktop, laptop, or tablet; any mobile device such asa phone; a social media site; any network; and an emergency service. Anexample of an embodiment that may send video highlights to an emergencyservice is a crash detection system, for example for a bicycle or amotorcycle. This embodiment may monitor a user using for example anaccelerometer to detect a crash, and an onboard camera to capture videocontinuously. When a crash is detected, information about the locationand severity of the crash may be sent directly to an emergency service,along with video showing the crash. Any cameras local to the event,whether a highlight event or crash or any other type of event may bequeried to determine if they have video from that location and time, forexample using a field of view that would envelope the location of theevent for example. The videos that cover the event, or any other sensorsnear the event and near the time may also be queried and sent out todefine a group event. Other sensor data, including heart rate and soundor sound levels may also be indicative of an event that is worthy of ahighlight or other type of event, such as a fail. Members of any groupassociated with the user may subscribe to the event or group event andobtain the highlights or fails of the day.

With respect to highlight thresholds, the best events according to oneor more metrics may be tagged, and in addition, the worst events or anyother range of events may be tagged. The tagging of an event mayindicate that the event may indicate that the respective event videos ormotion data is to be associated with a given highlight reel, or failreel. In one or more embodiments, metrics or activity signatures may beutilized to identify epic fails or other fails, for example where a userfails to execute a trick or makes a major mistake. FIG. 41A illustratesan example that is a variation of the snowboarder example of FIG. 41. Asignature for 41A20 a fail is defined as having a high velocity,following shortly by having a very small or zero velocity; thissignature characterizes a crash. At frame 4104 the snowboarder executesa jump, and then hits a tree at frame 41A05. Thus the velocitytransitions quickly from a high speed to zero at 41A13. The epic failframes 41A30 are selected to record the fail. As in FIG. 41, these failframes may be overlaid with metric data 4135. The fail frames may besent to other viewers or repositories 4140, and a message 41A50 may besent to the camera to discard frames other than the selected failframes. One or more embodiments may use multiple signatures foractivities of interest to identify and capture various types ofactivities; for example, an embodiment may simultaneously use ahighlight signature like signature 4120 in FIG. 41 as well as a failsignature like signature 41A20 in FIG. 41A. Any video characteristic ormotion data may be utilized to specify a highlight or fail metric tocreate the respective reel.

One or more embodiments may generate highlight frames using the abovetechniques, and may then discard non-highlight frames in order toconserve storage space and bandwidth. One or more embodiments may alsosend messages to other systems, such as to the camera that initiallycaptured the video, indicating that only the highlight frames should beretained and that other frames should be discarded. This is illustratedin FIG. 41 with discard message 4150 sent to camera 4101, telling thecamera to discard all frames other than those selected as highlightframes.

In one or more embodiments, the motion metrics may include an elapsedtime for an activity, and sensor data and video analysis may be combinedto determine the starting time and the finish time for the activity.FIG. 42 illustrates an embodiment that uses a motion sensor to determinea starting time, and uses video analysis to determine a finish time.User 4201 is running a sprint, for example, between starting line 4203and finish line 4204. Motion capture element 4210 is attached to theuser, and it includes an accelerometer. The user is stationary prior tothe sprint. The start of the sprint is detected when the acceleration4211 in the horizontal (x) direction exceeds a threshold; this occurs attime 4212 (tStart). In this example, the sensor cannot determinedirectly when the user crosses the finish line, because the usercontinues to move forward after crossing the finish line. Thereforecamera 4220 is positioned at the finish line. Video frames 4221 aremonitored to detect when the user crosses the finish line. Using videoframe analysis, which may for example use trajectory interpolationbetween frames to determine exact crossing time, the time of finish 4222(tFinish) is determined. Thus the elapsed time 4230 for the spring maybe calculated. This illustrative example uses a sensor for starting timeand a camera for finish time. One or more embodiments may use variousother combinations of sensors and cameras to determine starting timesand finish times for activities; for example, a camera could be used tolocate starting time by analyzing video for the signature of the startof forward motion.

One or more embodiments of the invention may use multiple sensors,possibly of different types or modalities, to analyze events. FIG. 43illustrates an embodiment with sensors that measure motions of baseballplayer 4301, baseball bat 4302, and baseball 4303. In one or moreembodiments sensors may measure motion or other aspects of any player orplayers; of any piece or pieces of equipment used by, attached to,carried by, or worn by any player; or of any projectile such as forexample a ball that may be contacted by a piece of equipment or used bya player. One or more embodiments may measure motion of any combinationsor subsets of players, equipment, and projectiles. In some sportsplayers may use equipment without projectiles, such as for example inskiing. In some sports players may use projectiles without specializedequipment to contact the projectile, such as for example in basketball.One or more embodiments may measure motion of any subset of the players,projectiles, or equipment that appear in or participate in any activity.

One or more embodiments may use different types of sensors to measuremotion of the various items involved in an activity, such as theplayers, equipment, and projectiles. Sensors may be of different typesor modalities, including for example, without limitation, inertialmotion sensors, video cameras, radars, light gates, light curtains, GPSsensors, or ultrasonic or infrared location sensors. One or moreembodiments may combine different types of sensors to obtain theadvantages of each type of sensor in combination. For example, in one ormore embodiments inertial sensors may provide highly accurateinformation on changes in velocity and position at a high sampling rate,while video cameras may provide information on location and orientationat a lower sampling rate. Combining data from multiple sensors andpotentially from multiple types of sensors provides more accurate andmore comprehensive information on the motion of the items involved in anactivity or event.

In the illustrative embodiment shown in FIG. 43, an inertial motionsensor 4312 is attached to baseball bat 4302. This motion sensor may forexample comprise any or all of an accelerometer, a rate gyro, or amagnetometer, each with any number of axes. Inertial sensor 4311 isattached to the player 4301, for example on a belt or an article ofclothing. In one or more embodiments a sensor measuring motion of aplayer or of a piece of equipment may for example be embedded in a smartphone or a smart watch carried by or worn by the player or attached tothe equipment. In baseball, success for example in hitting depends onthe motion of the bat relative to the incoming motion of the baseball.In the embodiment of FIG. 43, three sensors are located in the vicinityof the activity to measure motion of the baseball 4303. Video camera4313 records video of the ball's motion; the video may also recordmotion of bat 4302 and of player 4301. Radar 4314 measures motion of theball 4303; the radar may also measure motion of bat 4302 and player4301. A light gate sensor has emitter 4315 and receiver 4317; itprovides a signal when an object such as ball 4303 interrupts beam 4316between the emitter and the receiver. One or more embodiments may usemultiple light gates to measure position of an object over time, and forexample to calculate the object's speed. These sensors—inertial sensors4312 and 4311, video camera 4313, radar 4314, and light gate 4315/4317are illustrative; one or more embodiments may use any combination ofsensors of any desired type or types to measure motion, position,orientation, or any other aspect of any or all of the objects such asthe player 4301, the equipment 4302, and the projectile 4303.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 43, data from the various sensors aretransmitted to an event analysis and tagging system 4320. This systemmay analyze the sensor data, detect events, calculate metrics, and addtags to describe and classify the events. One or more embodiments of theevent analysis and tagging system may use any processor or combinationof processors to perform the analysis, event detection, and tagging;processors may include for example, without limitation, amicroprocessor, a microcontroller, a mobile device, a smart phone, asmart watch, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a laptop computer,a desktop computer, a server computer, or any combination or network ofthese processors. In the example of FIG. 43, the event analysis andtagging system 4320 includes one or both of a smart phone 4331 and acomputer 4341. Data may be transmitted from the sensors to the processoror processors over any wired or wireless networks, and received by theappropriate network interface or network interfaces coupled to theprocessors. For example, processor 4331 has a wireless interface 4332 toreceive wireless sensor data, and processor 4341 has wired interface4342 to receive wired sensor data. The multiple sensors may contain anycombination of wireless sensors and wired sensors. Some sensors maysupport both wireless and wired connections. The processors such as 4331and 4341 may calculate one or more metrics associated with a detectedevent. For example, in FIG. 43, the processors may analyze motion datafrom the bat sensor 4312 and from the video 4313 tracking the ball (orfrom any of the other sensors such as 4314 and 4317) to determine areaction time metric 4350 that measures how quickly the batter respondsto a pitch. This reaction time may for example measure the time lagbetween when the ball 4303 leaves a pitcher and when the batter 4301begins a forward swing of the bat 4302 in an attempt to hit the ball.

FIG. 44 shows another example of a system with multiple sensors ofvarious types to analyze an event. Inertial sensors 4311 a and 4311 bare attached to soccer players 4301 a and 4301 b respectively. Inertialsensor 4413 is embedded in soccer ball 4303 a. Video camera 4313 andradar 4314 record motion of the players and the ball. A light curtainwith transmitters 4315 a and receiver 4317 a is positioned on the soccergoal 4402 to record when objects enter the goal. Data from all of thesesensors is sent to event analysis and tagging system 4320, over eitherwireless or wired networks.

One or more embodiments may synchronize data received from multiplesensors to a common time scale. In some embodiments sensors may haveinternal clocks that are synchronized, or that may be periodicallysynchronized to one another using a master clock or other timesynchronization protocol. In some embodiments data may be synchronizedby the event analysis and tagging system. FIG. 45 illustrates an examplethat synchronizes data based on detection of an event. Sensor data iscaptured from inertial sensor 4312 on baseball bat 4302, and from videocamera 4313. Inertial sensor data 4520 is recorded on time axis 4521,which is not initially synchronized with the time axis 4511 for thevideo frames. The event analysis system detects an impact event when thebat 4302 hits the ball 4303. The impact signature in the inertial sensordata is a sharp discontinuity 4521 in the acceleration of the bat. Theimpact signature in the video data is proximity of the bat to the ball,which is detected in frame 4510 c. The system therefore matches theframe 4510 c with the acceleration discontinuity 4521 to synchronizetime scales 4521 and 4511.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 45, the video camera 4313 tracksmotion of the baseball 4303, and the inertial sensor 4312 tracks motionof the bat 4302. The event analysis and tagging system can thereforecombine bat motion data and ball motion data to calculate metrics thatcorrelate bat motion and ball motion. An illustrative metric is the“reaction time” of the batter, which measures how long it takes for thebatter 4301 to begin a swing of bat 4302 after the ball 4303 leaves thepitcher 4301 p, as seen in frame 4510 a. FIG. 46 illustrates calculationof the reaction time from the combination of the video data and theinertial sensor data. Ball speed 4602 is calculated from analysis of thevideo data, which tracks the ball motion. Bat speed 4603 is calculatedfrom the inertial sensor data from the inertial sensor on the bat. Batand ball speed data are synchronized to a common time scale 4601. Attime 4611 the ball leaves the pitcher. This time may be determined forexample by analysis of the video frames to detect when the ball leavesthe pitcher, or by locating the point 4612 of maximum ball speed. Attime 4621 the batter begins a forward swing of the bat, as determined bythe zero crossing 4622 of the bat speed. The difference 4630 betweentime 4621 and time 4611 is the reaction time metric. Additional metricsthat may be calculated include the swing speed 4631 of the bat atimpact, and the pitch speed 4632 of the ball at the time of impact. Inone or more embodiments the ball speed 4602 may be calculated fromsensors other than or in addition to a video camera, such as for examplea radar, a light gate, or an inertial sensor embedded in the ball.Similarly, the bat speed 4603 may be determined using any sensor orcombination of sensors.

Many activities involve a player executing a swing or other motion of apiece of equipment in an effort to contact or hit a projectile.Illustrative examples include baseball, softball, tennis, badminton,golf, hockey, and polo. In some cases, the projectile may be in motion,which increases the difficulty of contacting the projectile. An exampleof a projectile in motion is a baseball pitched by a pitcher. One ormore embodiments may analyze the combined motion of a projectile and apiece of equipment by calculating the trajectories over time of theequipment and the projectile from sensor data. FIG. 47 illustrates thisprocess using an example of a baseball swing. The player swings bat 4302in an attempt to hit incoming baseball 4303. Bat motion may be trackedusing for example inertial sensor 4312 on the bat; ball motion may betracked using for example video camera 4313. The event analysis andtagging system may calculate trajectory 4712 of the bat over time, andmay calculate trajectory 4713 of the ball over time. The system may thenanalyze these two trajectories to determine metrics associated with theswing. In general, the trajectories of the bat 4712 and of the ball 4713are three-dimensional vector functions of time 4722 and 4723,respectively. We denote the equipment trajectory by e(t) (a vectorfunction of time) and the projectile trajectory by p(t) (also a vectorfunction of time). Because equipment and projectiles have size andshape, a definite trajectory is associated with an individual point on apiece of equipment or a projectile. In many applications a piece ofequipment has a preferred location or locations for hitting aprojectile, such as “sweet spot” 4702 of bat 4302. One or moreembodiments may generate an equipment trajectory 4712 by tracking thelocation of this preferred hitting location on the equipment. Similarly,one or more embodiments may generate a projectile trajectory by trackingthe location of a specific location on the projectile, such as forexample its center of mass or a point on its surface.

FIGS. 48A and 48B illustrate a simplified example of equipment andprojectile trajectories in two dimensions only. This simplification isfor ease of exposition only; in general, the trajectories are in threedimensions. FIGS. 48A and 48B illustrate that analysis of the combinedequipment and projectile trajectories requires in general aconsideration of both spatial and temporal coordinates. In FIG. 48A, theequipment misses the projectile, since equipment trajectory 4722 a doesnot intersect projectile trajectory 4723 a anywhere in space. In FIG.48B, the equipment trajectory 4722 b does intersect projectiletrajectory 4723 b at point 4801. However, the equipment and theprojectile reach point 4801 at different times, therefore the swingstill misses the projectile. Specifically, the projectile trajectory4723 b reaches point 4801 at time 4802 (t=400 milliseconds), and theequipment trajectory 4722 b reaches point 4801 at time 4803 (t=600milliseconds); the swing is too late to hit the projectile.

One or more embodiments may use the relative spatial and temporalrelationships between an equipment trajectory and a projectiletrajectory to calculate one or more metrics for a swing. FIG. 49 showsillustrative metrics calculated for the trajectories of FIG. 48A. In oneor more embodiments the event analysis system may analyze projectiletrajectory 4723 a to determine an optimal hitting point on thetrajectory, where the equipment would contact the projectile for optimaleffect. For example, in baseball the bat should typically contact theincoming ball just in front of the batter to hit fair and with maximumpower. In one or more embodiments there may be multiple optimal hittingpoints or a range of optimal hitting points rather than a single point.For simplicity, FIG. 49 illustrates metrics 4910 with a single optimalhitting point 4901 (p*) on the projectile trajectory 4723 a. Theprojectile reaches this point at an optimal hitting time 4902 (t*). Aswing accuracy metric 4904 may be calculated for example from the vectordifference between the optimal hitting point 4901 and the location 4903of the equipment at the optimal hitting time. Other metrics may bederived from this vector; for example, the magnitude of the vector 4904indicates how close the equipment was to the projectile at the optimalhitting time. If the accuracy metric is at (or near) zero, the equipmentcontacts the projectile at (or near) the optimal hitting point.Otherwise, as discussed above for FIGS. 48A and 48B, errors may resultfrom either or both of spatial deviations or temporal deviations in theswing. A spatial deviation metric 4906 may be defined for example as thevector difference between the optimal hitting point 4901 and the closestapproach 4905 of the equipment trajectory 4722 a to this optimal hittingpoint. A temporal deviation metric 4908 may be defined for example asthe time difference between the optimal hitting time 4902 and the time4907 at which the equipment trajectory reaches the closest approachpoint 4905. In the trajectories of FIG. 48B, for example, the spatialdeviation is zero, but the temporal deviation is 200 milliseconds; thisindicates that the swing was spatially accurate but mistimed. Thesemetrics are illustrative; one or more embodiments may calculate anymetrics based on the equipment trajectory and the projectile trajectory.

In one or more embodiments the event analysis and tagging system mayanalyze sensor data to automatically generate or select one or more tagsfor an event. Event tags may for example group events into categoriesbased on the type of activity involved in the event. For example,analysis of football events may categorize a play as a running play, apassing play, or a kicking play. For activities that occur in multiplestages (such as the four downs of a football possession, or the threeouts of a baseball inning), tags may indicate the stage or stages atwhich the event occurs. For example, a football play could be tagged asoccurring on third down in the fourth quarter. Tags may identify ascenario or context for an activity or event. For example, the contextfor a football play may include the yards remaining for first down; thusa play tag might indicate that it is a third down play with four yardsto go (3^(rd) and 4). Tags may identify one or more players associatedwith an event; they may also identify the role of each player in theevent. Tags may identify the time or location an event. For example,tags for a football play may indicate the yard line the play startsfrom, and the clock time remaining in the game or quarter when the playbegins. Tags may measure a performance level associated with an event,or success or failure of an activity. For example, a tag associated witha passing play in football may indicate a complete pass, incomplete, oran interception. Tags may indicate a result such as a score or ameasurable advancement or setback. For example, a football play resulttag might indicate the number of yards gained or lost, and the pointsscored (if any). Tags may be either qualitative or quantitative; theymay have categorical, ordinal, interval, or ratio data. Tags may begeneric or domain specific. A generic tag for example may tag a playermotion with a maximum performance tag to indicate that this is thehighest performance for that player over some time interval (for example“highest jump of the summer”). Domain specific tags may be based on therules and activities of a particular sport. Thus for example result tagsfor a baseball swing might include baseball specific tags such asstrike, ball, hit foul, hit out, or hit safe.

FIG. 50 illustrates an example in which event analysis and taggingsystem 4320 analyzes sensor data for a pitch and the correspondingbaseball swing. Sensors may include for example inertial sensors, videocameras, radars, and light gates. The analysis system 4320 detects theswing, and then analyzes the sensor data to determine what tags toassociate with the swing event. Tags 5003 identify for example the typeof event (an at bat), the player making the swing (Casey), aclassification for the type of pitch (curve ball, as determined fromanalysis of the shape of the ball trajectory), the result of the swing(a hit, as detected by observing the contact 5001 between the bat 4302and the ball 4303), and a timestamp for the event (9^(th) inning). Thesetags are illustrative; one or more embodiments may generate any tag ortags for any activity or event. The system may store the event tags 5003in an event database 5004. Additional information 5002 for the event mayalso be stored in the event database, such as for example metrics,sensor data, trajectories, or video.

The event analysis and tagging system 4320 may also scan or analyzemedia from one or more servers or information sources to determine,confirm, or modify event tags 5003. Embodiments may obtain media datafrom any type or types of servers or information sources, including forexample, without limitation, an email server, a social media site, aphoto sharing site, a video sharing site, a blog, a wiki, a database, anewsgroup, an RSS server, a multimedia repository, a documentrepository, a text message server, and a Twitter® server. Media mayinclude for example text, audio, images, or videos related to the event.For example, information on social media servers 5005 may be retrieved5006 over the Internet or otherwise, and analyzed to determine, confirm,or modify event tags 5003. Events stored in the event database may alsobe published 5007 to social media sites 5005, or to any other servers orinformation systems. One or more embodiments may publish any or all dataassociated with an event, including for example metrics, sensor data,trajectories, and video 5002, and event tags 5003.

One or more embodiments may provide capabilities for users to retrieveor filter events based on the event tags generated by the analysissystem. FIG. 51 shows an illustrative user interface 5100 that mayaccess event database 5004. A table of events 5101 may be shown, and itmay provide options for querying or filtering based on event tags. Forexample, filters 5102 and 5103 are applied to select events associatedwith player “Casey” and event type “at bat.” One or more embodiments mayprovide any type of event filtering, querying, or reporting. In FIG. 51the user selects row 5104 to see details of this event. The userinterface then displays the tags 5003 that were generated automaticallyby the system for this event. A manual tagging interface 5110 isprovided to allow the user to add additional tags or to edit the tagsgenerated by the system. For example, the user may select a tag name5111 to define a scoring result associated with this event, presumingfor example that the automatic analysis of sensor data is not able inthis case to determine what the scoring result was. The user can thenmanually select or enter the scoring result 5112. The manually selectedtags may then be added to the event record for this event in the eventdatabase 5004 when the user hits the Add button 5113 for the new tag ortags. The user interface may show other information associated with theselected event 5104, such as for example metrics 5002 a and video 5120.It may provide a video playback feature with controls 5121, which mayfor example provide options such as 5122 to overlay a trajectory 5123 ofa projectile or other object onto the video. One or more embodiments mayprovide a feature to generate a highlight reel for one or more eventsthat correspond to selected event tags. For example, when a user pressesthe Create Highlight Reel button 5130, the system may retrieve video andrelated information for all of the events 5101 matching the currentfilters, and concatenate the video for all of these events into a singlehighlight video. In one or more embodiments the highlight reel may beautomatically edited to show only the periods of time with the mostimportant actions. In one or more embodiments the highlight reel maycontain overlays showing the tags, metrics, or trajectories associatedwith the event. One or more embodiments may provide options for thegeneration or editing of the highlight reel; for example, users may havethe option to order the events in the highlight reel chronologically, orby other tags or metrics. The highlight reel may be stored in eventdatabase 5004, and may be published to social media sites 5005.

FIG. 52 illustrates an embodiment that analyzes social media postings toaugment tags for an event. Data from sensors such as inertial sensor4312 and video camera 4313 is analyzed 5201 by the event analysis andtagging system 4320, resulting in initial event tags 5003 a. In thisillustrative example, the sensors 4312 and 4313 are able to detect thatthe player hit the ball, but are not able to determine the result of thehit. Therefore, event tags 5003 a do not contain a “Swing Result” tagsince the sensor data is insufficient to create this tag. (This exampleis illustrative; in one or more embodiments sensor data may besufficient to determine a swing result or any other information.) Theevent analysis and tagging system 4320 accesses social media sites 5005and analyzes postings related to the event. For example, the system mayuse the time and location of the event to filter social media postingsfrom users near that location who posted near the time of the event. Inthis example, the system searches text postings for specific keywords5204 to determine the result of the event. Although the sensors or videomay be utilized to indicate that a hit has occurred, social media may beanalyzed to determine what type of hit, i.e., event has actuallyoccurred. For example, based on this text analysis 5202, the systemdetermines that the result 5205, is a likely home run; therefore it addstag 5206 to the event tags with this result. The augmented event tags5003 b may then be stored in the event database and published to socialmedia sites. The keyword search shown in FIG. 52 is illustrative; one ormore embodiments may use any method to analyze text or other media todetermine, confirm, or modify event tags. For example, withoutlimitation, one or more embodiments may use natural language processing,pattern matching, Bayesian networks, machine learning, neural networks,or topic models to analyze text or any other information. Embodiments ofthe system yield increased accuracy for event detection not possible ordifficult to determine based on sensor or video data in general. Eventsmay be published onto a social media site or saved in a database forlater analysis, along with any event tags for example.

One or more embodiments may save or transfer or otherwise publish only aportion of a video capture, and discard the remaining frames. FIG. 53illustrates an embodiment with video camera 4313 that captures videoframes 5301. The video contains frames 5310 a, 5301 b, and 5310 crelated to an event of interest, which in this example is a hitperformed by batter 4301. The bat is equipped with an inertial sensor4312. Data from inertial sensor 4312 is analyzed by event analysis andtagging system 4320 to determine the time interval of interest for thehit event. This analysis indicates that only the video frames 5310 a,5310 b, and 5310 c are of interest, and that other frames such as frame5311 should be discarded 5302. The system generates event tags 5003 andsaves the tags and the selected video frames 5303 in event database5004. This information, including the selected video frames, may bepublished for example to social media sites 5005, e.g., withouttransferring the non-event data. The discard operation 5302 may forexample erase the discarded frames from memory, or may command camera4313 to erase these frames. One or more embodiments may use anyinformation to determine what portion of a video capture to keep andwhat portion to discard, including information from other sensors andinformation from social media sites or other servers.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modificationsand variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-sensor event analysis and tagging systemcomprising a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of said pluralityof sensors measures motion of a different object of a plurality ofobjects; said plurality of objects comprises two or more of a player; apiece of equipment worn by, attached to, carried by, or used by saidplayer; a projectile configured to be contacted by said player or bysaid piece of equipment; an event analysis and tagging system comprisinga communications interface configured to receive sensor data from saidplurality of sensors; a processor coupled to said communicationsinterface and configured to receive said sensor data from saidcommunications interface; synchronize said sensor data to a common timescale, forming synchronized sensor data; analyze said synchronizedsensor data to detect an event; calculate one or more metrics for saidevent.
 2. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 1,wherein said plurality of objects comprises said player; said piece ofequipment worn by, attached to, carried by, or used by said player; and,said projectile configured to be contacted by said player or by saidpiece of equipment.
 3. The multi-sensor event analysis and taggingsystem of claim 1, wherein said projectile comprises one or more of aball, a football, a rugby ball, an Australian rules football, a soccerball, a volleyball, a water polo ball, a polo ball, a basketball, alacrosse ball, a field hockey ball, a croquet ball, a billiard ball, ahorseshoe, a shuffleboard disc, a tennis ball, a ping pong ball, aracquet ball, a hand ball, a bocce ball, a lawn dart, a squash ball, ashuttlecock, a baseball, a softball, a golf ball, a bowling ball, ahockey puck, a dodgeball, a kick ball, a Wiffle™ ball, a javelin, a shotput, a discus, a marble, a bullet, an arrow, a knife, a throwing star, abolas, a grenade, a water balloon, a boomerang, a Frisbee™, a caber, anda curling stone.
 4. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging systemof claim 1, wherein said piece of equipment comprises one or more of abat, a racquet, a paddle, a golf club, a bow, a gun, a slingshot, asabre, a quarterstaff, a lacrosse stick, a hockey stick, a field hockeystick, a polo mallet, a croquet mallet, a pool cue, a shuffleboard cue,a glove, a shoe, a belt, a watch, a helmet, a cap, a ski, a snowboard, askateboard, a surfboard, an ice skate, a sled, a luge, a windsurfingboard, a hang glider, a roller skate, a roller blade, a vehicle, asnowmobile, a jet ski, a bicycle, a tricycle, a unicycle, a motorcycle,a snowmobile, and a mechanical bull.
 5. The multi-sensor event analysisand tagging system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensorscomprises two or more of an inertial motion sensor; a video camera; alight gate; and, a radar.
 6. The multi-sensor event analysis and taggingsystem of claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensors comprises a firstinertial sensor coupled to said piece of equipment, and configured tomeasure one or more of a position, an orientation, a velocity, anangular velocity, an acceleration, and an angular acceleration of saidpiece of equipment. a second sensor configured to measure motion of saidprojectile, wherein said second sensor comprises one or more of a videocamera, a light gate, a radar, or a second inertial sensor.
 7. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 1, wherein saidplurality of objects comprises said piece of equipment, and saidprojectile; said event comprises a motion of said projectile and a swingof said piece of equipment by said player to attempt to hit saidprojectile.
 8. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system ofclaim 7, wherein said piece of equipment is a bat; said projectile is aball; said motion of said projectile is a pitch of said ball.
 9. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 8, wherein saidmetrics comprise an elapsed time between a pitch start time when saidball leaves a pitcher and a swing start time when said player startsacceleration of said bat towards said ball for said swing.
 10. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 7, wherein saidprocessor is further configured to calculate a projectile trajectoryfrom said sensor data; a piece of equipment trajectory from said sensordata.
 11. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim10, wherein said piece of equipment trajectory is a trajectory of apreferred hitting location on said piece of equipment.
 12. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 11, wherein saidpiece of equipment is a bat; said preferred hitting location is a sweetspot of said bat.
 13. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging systemof claim 10, wherein said processor is further configured to calculatean optimal hitting point on said projectile trajectory, said optimalhitting point comprising an optimal hitting time and an optimal hittinglocation; said one or more metrics comprise one or more of a swingaccuracy metric calculated from a vector difference between said optimalhitting location and a location of said piece of equipment trajectory atsaid optimal hitting time; a spatial deviation metric calculated from avector difference between said optimal hitting location and a closestpoint on said piece of equipment trajectory to said optimal hittinglocation; a temporal deviation metric calculated from a time differencebetween said optimal hitting time and a time at which said piece ofequipment trajectory reaches said closest point on said piece ofequipment trajectory to said optimal hitting location.
 14. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 1, furthercomprising an event database; wherein said event analysis and taggingsystem is further configured to analyze said synchronized sensor data todetermine one or more tags for said event; store one or both of saidsynchronized sensor data and said one or more metrics for said event insaid event database; store said one or more tags in said event databasewith said event.
 15. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging systemof claim 14, wherein said event analysis and tagging system is furtherconfigured to analyze one or more of text, audio, image, and video froma computer or server to determine said one or more tags for said event.16. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 15,wherein said one or more of text, audio, image, and video comprise oneor more of email messages, voice calls, voicemails, audio recordings,video calls, video messages, video recordings, text messages, chatmessages, postings on social media sites, postings on blogs, or postingson wikis.
 17. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging system ofclaim 15, wherein said server comprises one or more of an email server,a social media site, a photo sharing site, a video sharing site, a blog,a wiki, a database, a newsgroup, an RSS server, a multimedia repository,a document repository, and a text message server.
 18. The multi-sensorevent analysis and tagging system of claim 15, wherein said analyzingone or more of text, audio, image, and video comprises searching saidtext for key words or key phrases related to said event.
 19. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 14, wherein saidone or more tags represent one or more of an activity type of saidevent; a location of said event; a timestamp of said event; a stage ofan activity associated with said event; a player identity associatedwith said event; a performance level associated with said event; ascoring result associated with said event.
 20. The multi-sensor eventanalysis and tagging system of claim 14, wherein said event analysis andtagging system is further configured to publish said event and one ormore of said one or more tags to a social media site.
 21. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 14, furthercomprising a manual tagging interface configured to present said eventto a user; accept one or more user selected tags for said event fromsaid user; store said one or more user selected tags in said eventdatabase with said event.
 22. The multi-sensor event analysis andtagging system of claim 14, further comprising an event filter coupledto said event database, wherein said event filter is configured toaccept one or more filter tags; return one or both of said synchronizedsensor data and said one or more metrics for events in said eventdatabase having tags that match said one or more filter tags.
 23. Themulti-sensor event analysis and tagging system of claim 22, wherein saidplurality of sensors comprise a video camera; said event filter isfurther configured to create a highlight reel comprising video for saidevents in said event database having tags that match said one or moreselection tags.
 24. The multi-sensor event analysis and tagging systemof claim 14, wherein said plurality of sensors comprise a video camera;said event analysis and tagging system is further configured discard aportion of a video from said video camera.